The 2027 Rugby World Cup fixtures were released this past week, with the back-to-back reigning world champion Springboks learning the path they must take if they are to triumph in an unprecedented third straight final. With that in mind, we’ve highlighted each of the five genuine title contenders’ schedules to see what we can look forward to next year.
Despite the introduction of a round of 16 stage which has arguably made the tournament more convoluted than it needs to be, there will be plenty of mouth-watering matchups to come as each side looks to get their hands on the William Webb Ellis.
Springboks
Rassie Erasmus’ men kick off their schedule on Sunday 3 October against Italy at the Adelaide Oval in the side’s toughest fixture of Pool B. With this opening clash set to decide who tops the pool, it’s likely this encounter will be made a top priority by Erasmus and his coaches in a similar vein as the nations’ 2019 RWC fixture against the same opponents. Given the side starts the defence of their crown in their toughest game, they’ll need to be switched on from the get-go.
Following on from that, the Boks face Georgia on 10 October at the Brisbane Stadium with their final match before the knockouts coming against Romania 7 days later in Perth.
If, as expected, they top the pool and see off their round of 16 opponents (a third-placed team from one of pools D, E or F), they’ll be on course to face either hosts Australia or the All Blacks in what will be a blockbuster quarterfinal on either the 30th or 31st of October.
All Blacks
While uncertainty abounds in the All Blacks camp at the minute, what has been confirmed are their RWC fixtures, with an almighty tussle against the Wallabies in Sydney on 9 October sandwiched in between ties with Chile in Perth on 2 October and Hong Kong China on 15 October in Melbourne.
If they can safely see off their trans-Tasman foes in that second Pool A-deciding matchup, they’ll be in the round of 16 facing off against the same possible opponents as the Boks at that stage before surely meeting the Siya Kolisi’s troops in the last eight.
England
Many are expecting the world’s unofficially second-ranked team to build up some proper steam from now until the start of their Pool F campaign in Brisbane against Tonga on 2 October, with their ensuing clashes against Zimbabwe in Townsville on 15 October and old foes Wales on 16 October in Sydney set to decide who they face in the knockouts.
If they win their pool as expected, Steve Borthwick’s outfit will then tackle the runners-up of Pool B, likely to be Italy, in Perth on 24 October. Seeing as the Roses have never lost to the Italians in their history, it might be safe to assume they will take on the winner of the round of 16 battle between the runner-up of Pool A and runner-up of Pool E in their hypothetical quarterfinal.
France
Antoine Dupont’s golden generation begin their final crack at a World Cup title in Melbourne against the United States on 2 October, before taking on Japan in Brisbane the following week and finishing against Samoa on 17 October in Sydney.
With a top-placed finish in Pool E all but assured, they’ll be pitted against the runner-up of Pool D (probably Scotland) in their RO16 duel on 23 October in Melbourne. Given Gregor Townsend’s Brave Hearts have made a habit of getting under the skin of Fabien Galthie’s Le Bleu in recent years, this encounter could yet prove to be a potential banana peel for the French and should make for arguably the most exciting round of 16 matchup.
However, if the Scots down Ireland in Pool D, it’ll be a France/ Ireland RO16 showdown in an equally if not even more riveting encounter.
If they can get through that massive test, France will find be up against either Argentina, Fiji or Wales in the quarterfinals.
Ireland
Whether Andy Farrell’s clearly on the wane Irish side can pull themselves together in time for the global showpiece remains to be seen, but they open their Pool D account against Portugal in Sydney on 4 October and follow that up with a pool-deciding affair with Scotland on 10 October in Perth.
After completing pool duties the following week against Uruguay in Melbourne, they’ll face either the third-ranked team of one of pools B, E or F (should they win Pool D), or tackle the winner of Pool E (France most likely) in the RO16 if they finish second. From there awaits another shot at claiming what would be their first quarterfinal win.
