With the latest edition of the Six Nations nearly done and dusted, attention turns to this autumn's Rugby World Cup, which is now less than six months away. In September, the world's greatest rugby talent will descend on Paris for eight weeks of non-stop action, with South Africa looking to defend the title they won in Japan four years ago.
But the Springboks are one of three teams who face an early exit this time around, with the draw for the tournament leaving the current top five teams in the world in the same half of the draw and only allowing two of them a space in the semi-finals.
The 2023 draw was made back in December 2020, just over a year on from the tournament in Japan, with seedings decided on what the world rankings were at the start of 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At that time, the new World Champions South Africa topped the standings, followed by New Zealand, England and then reigning Grand Slam champions Wales in fourth place to make up the top seeds.
