RWC Draw

I would say that is a nightmare group for England. If the tournament was played today it is a great group for England but its in 3 years. Australia can only improve and will be stronger and Wales are just having a blip at the moment but have been raising their game for the big tournaments. England right now are as strong as they have been since they won the world cup. Can they maintain that level?

Ireland got a great draw. They have been matching France for a few years now and I don't think they have lost to Italy. We should qualify guaranteed.

A tough one for England and Wales, and rather jammy ones for Ireland and Scotland.

Groups C & D look pretty clear cut, with the first two going through. In Group A you could have any of the first 3 and Group B should be South Africa and one of Samoa or Scotland.

England will have home advantage, and will probably improve further as players like Corbisiero, Launchbury, Parling, Morgan, Youngs, Farrell, Tuilagi and Brown mature. Equally, Australia seemed to have started on that path and Wales should have North & Cuthburt at their best - though Adam Jones and Mike Phillips might struggle. At homes you'd have to say England would beat one of the two, but then each might beat on of the top three!

I don't think it is too bad for England, to stay at HQ it will be necessary to top the group. We avoided SA and more importantly NZ, we got the strongest tier three and four teams but we need to beat those teams if we want to lift the cup. If England do manage to top the group, they head in to a QF with Samoa or Scotland. In 2015 I would like to add a few names to your list SARS^^ Lawes will be 26, Foden 30, Cole 28, Hartley 29, Ashton 28, Robshaw 29, Croft 30 and Wood 29. So alot of the current England team should be in their prime. George Ford will be 22 then too, and I think he will be outstanding. Good times.

I think it is exciting, England, if they win the group. Will have the confidence to really dominate afterwards. Then, like Aristodemus has said, we will have a relatively easy run in outside of the group.

Eh SARS thanks for the jammy comment. considering its the very first time ireland have had any luck at all in the RWC draw i'll bloody take it mate. Nasty Nasty and bloody nasty group A There are 3 teams here and all are as as good as each other on their day. Nasty!

g B is a walk through for the saffas. Should be interesting for the scots and samoa and on the past few weeks of form im gona say samoa go through.

C no contest. NZ then Argentina.

D i reckon we stuff the French and leave them to shoot it out against the AB's in the first knockout round. Ireland to top the group :-P

I'm not that worried. Sometimes teams waltz through easy group stages then get smashed as they're under prepared for the big boys.

Whilst those in really tough groups become really solid units by the knockout stages.

Of course sometimes its the other way round and teams that rest through the group stages are fresher for the finals....bring it on!