Overview
- England will face Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe in Pool F at the expanded 24‑team Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027, following the draw in Sydney.
- The grouping is widely viewed as advantageous for England given Wales’ slump to 11th with 20 losses in their last 22 Tests, and Tonga and Zimbabwe’s lower rankings.
- Captain Maro Itoje set a clear objective for the squad, stating that England’s goal is to win the 2027 tournament.
- Columnists argue England’s current side still falls short of the 2003 world champions’ standard and needs accelerated development over the next two years.
- Recent optimism after beating New Zealand is tempered by views that the All Blacks were below their best, with added focus turning to the 2026 Six Nations and France’s potential boost if Matthieu Jalibert is restored at fly half.