The Blues of Fabien Galthié will be fixed on their fate.
This Monday at 12:30 pm will be held at the Palais Brongniart, in Paris, the draw for pools for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, edition organized in France.
Twelve teams have already qualified, having finished in the first three places in their group at the last World Cup in Japan.
Eight tickets still have to be distributed at the end of a real obstacle course.
How are the seeds designated?
World Rugby, the international federation, had decided, because of the health crisis, that the seeds would be designated according to the world ranking established on January 1, 2020. A blow for the XV of France which, at the beginning of the year was only 7th after the last World Cup (defeat in the quarterfinals against Wales), before stringing together good results in 2020 (only two losses in nine games) and climbing back to 4th place in March when the Tournament was stopped.
In the end, the Blues will be in the second hat and could inherit a "big customer" from the first round.
What are the hats?
Hat 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Wales
Hat 2: Ireland, Australia, France, Japan
Hat 3: Scotland, Argentina, Fiji, Italy
Hat 4: Oceania 1, Europe 1, America 1, Asia / Pacific 1
Hat 5: Africa 1, Europe 2, America 2, winner of final qualifying tournament
What would be the worst draw for France?
Even if they recently went through a crisis of results, the All Blacks remain the world benchmark.
Crossing them, from the group stage, would be a big obstacle, even if it would also be very very complicated South Africa, the reigning world champion, or England, our best enemy.
Never in the history of the World Cup, New Zealand has lost a group match ... In 2011, the Blues of Marc Lièvremont had crossed the road of the "men in black" for a large defeat (17-37 ) at Auckland's Eden Park.
This did not prevent the troops in Morgan Parra from reaching the final and losing nothing against the same Kiwis (7-8).
The XV of France has not beaten New Zealand since 2009 and remains on 14 defeats in a row.
The French could also find the Argentines, placed in the third hat, from the first round.
With, in memory, the defeat conceded against the team of Agustin Pichot in 2007 at the opening of the first World Cup organized in France.
The Pumas recently showed the extent of their progress, beating the All Blacks for the first time in their history and holding the Wallabies in check twice.
In this third hat, we also find Fiji.
Still bad memories for France beaten at Sade de France in November 2018 (14-21).
In the fourth hat, another “painful” team, “Oceania 1”, which will be either Tonga or Samoa.
Always difficult to negotiate.
Again in 2011, the Blues had bowed against the Tongans ... The "America 1" team (United States, Canada or Uruguay) is not to be taken lightly either.
Worst draw: All Blacks, France, Argentina, Tonga or Samoa
What would be the best draw?
In the wake of the last World Cup, Wales suffered a big blow from less well.
The new coach, Wayne Pivac, successor to Warren Gatland, is struggling to restart the machine.
The XV du Leek - fallen back to 9th place in the world ranking - is certainly the least devious opponent of the first hat.
In the third hat, Italy seems to be largely within the reach of Fabien Galthié players.
La Nazionale, integrated into the Six Nations Tournament in 2000, is still struggling to compete with the best teams and has just completed a fifth wooden spoon in a row.
Largely takeable.
Just like the team that will win the final qualifying tournament, at the end of an endless qualifying journey.
The best draw: Wales, France, Italy, Georgia or Romania
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