South Africa were drawn into Pool B for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The hosts have to face New Zealand in pool A.
South Africa will play against Italy, Georgia and Romania in their 2027 Rugby World Cup pool, as the defending champions hope to become the first nation to win three global showpieces in a row.
It’s a straightforward group with the Springboks only having lost once against any of the three opponents.
Pools A and E will likely be the most hotly contested.
Hosts Australia face Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand, as well as Chile and Hong Kong China in pool A. The Wallabies lost to the All Blacks in both their Rugby Championship fixtures this year but will want to top the pool to have a better run in the round of 16.
France, Japan, USA and Samoa battle it out in pool E. See the full pool list below.
Springbok record v opponents
Italy are ranked 10th in the world and have already lost to the Springboks three times this year. They lost 42-24 in Pretoria and 55-10 in Gqeberha in July, and then 32-14 in Turin in November despite having a player advantage for the whole of the second half.
In 11 clashes, Italy only won one. They won their 2016 Test 20-18 but lost their next six matches against South Africa.
Georgia, ranked 13th, lost 55-10 when they played the Boks at Mbombela Stadium in Gqeberha in July. They have lost against the Springboks three times, conceding at least 40 points on each occasion.
Romania are ranked 22nd and have played the Springboks twice. They lost 21-8 during a 1995 World Cup match in Cape Town, and lost 76-0 in a 2023 match in Bordeaux.
The top two teams from each pool and the four best third-place finishers progress into the round of 16.
Essentially, 16 of 24 teams advance. The only teams eliminated after the pools are the two lowest third-placed teams and all six fourth-placed teams.
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World Cup pools
Pool A
Australia
New Zealand
Chile
Hong Kong China
Pool B
South Africa
Italy
Georgia
Romania
Pool C
Argentina
Fiji
Spain
Canada
Pool D
Ireland
Scotland
Uruguay
Portugal
Pool E
France
Japan
USA
Samoa
Pool F
England
Wales
Tonga
Zimbabwe
World Cup facts
The Springboks lifted the trophy in 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023. Their four titles are more than any other nation’s, with New Zealand one behind.
Twenty-four teams take part in the tournament from 1 October to 13 November 2027 – more than ever before.
Australia hosts the tournament for the third time. Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville are the host cities.
Zimbabwe last appeared in the Rugby World Cup back in 1991.
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