Wales and Lions legend predicts Six Nations teams to suffer Rugby World Cup nightmare

There is nothing quite like the Rugby World Cup to get us predicting what’s ahead during a carnival of rugby over the next seven weeks.

The completely lopsided draw sees the best five ranked teams in the world in 2src23 – Ireland, France, New Zealand, South Africa and Scotland – pitted in one half together. What that means is three of those cannot progress beyond the quarter-finals, which is surely not right? This, of course, is as a result of the draw being conducted three years ago when the seedings were entirely different. World Rugby say they won’t let that happen again.

A World Cup should be about the best four sides reaching the semi-finals. Given only two of them can make it that far this time, let’s hope World Rugby do indeed act to ensure there is no repeat of such imbalance in the future.

What it does, of course, is open up a far less difficult path to the semi-finals for Wales, England, Australia and Argentina, who are in the other half of the draw.

POOL A

The tournament begins with a spectacular Group A opener between France and New Zealand in Paris on Friday night. That will be a classic game of rugby, the hosts with the stellar backs and forwards they possess these days, backed by a fervent home crowd, plus the extra discipline that’s benefited their performances since Shaun Edwards’ arrival, versus traditional World Cup powerhouses New Zealand.

The Blacks rediscovered their form after a poor run of results by their standards, but were then given a walloping by South Africa in their final warm-up game. Perhaps that’s the exact kick up the backside they need.

I feel sorry for the other teams in the group, particularly an emerging Italy, as they have no chance of progress. The Blacks to beat the French in that opener and top the group for me.

Play out the Rugby World Cup now to see who wins

POOL B

Group B, containing Ireland, South Africa and Scotland, will be far more competitive. The Irish have been the best side in the world and had the tournament taken place 12 months ago many of us would have strongly fancied th