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Rugby World Cup draw: Who could England, Ireland and Wales play in the semi-finals?


England fans will hope to be enjoying the Rugby World Cup for a couple more weeks (Picture: Getty)

The Rugby World Cup is into the serious stuff now with the safety net of the group stages removed because we are playing knockout rugby.

The three Home Nations have managed to avoid each other in the quarter-finals with England up against Australia, Ireland taking on New Zealand and Wales facing fellow Europeans France.

England might been up against Six Nations rivals Wales had they lost to France in the group stages, but Typhoon Hagibis saw that clash cancelled, securing their place at the top of Group C.

Ironically, losing might have been a better option for Eddie Jones as it would have put England into the opposite side of the draw to tournament favorites New Zealand.

So here’s how the draw will shake out and who is set to face whom in the latter stages.

Semi-final 1 – England/Australia vs Ireland/New Zealand

If England beat Australia in Oita, they will fly up to the other end of the country where the International Stadium in Yokohama will host both semi-finals.

It will be unfamiliar territory for the Red Rose, having not made it to the last four of a Rugby World Cup since 2007.

But that record is nothing in comparison to the bizarre ‘cursed’ one of Ireland.

Ireland are hoping to end their horrendous run of quarter-final results (Picture: Getty)

When they take on New Zealand in Tokyo, they will be contesting their seventh World Cup quarter-final – but they have never won one.

Should the Irish find a way to confound their previous form and overturn the defending champions, then they will join England or Australia in the first semi-final on Saturday October 26.

Semi-final 2 – Wales/France vs Japan/South Africa

Unlike Ireland, Wales have some success in the last eight of a World Cup – although the less said about the red card that ended their 2011 campaign one game later, the better.

They will start as favourites against a France side who regard this tournament as something of a development opportunity rather than one they can genuinely win.

Assuming Warren Gatland’s side live up to expectation, they will probably end up on the same flight from Oita to Tokyo as England or their fans, but not the same semi-final.

A day later on Sunday October 27, they will face the winner of South Africa vs Japan, a rematch of the famous match in Brighton, only this time there will be a fair few more Japanese fans roaring their side on in the capital.

The Rugby World Cup final

The losing semi-finalists will have to go through the painful experience of a third-place play-off, perhaps rugby’s saddest game, at the Tokyo Stadium in Chofu.

The winners will remain in Tokyo and can leave their kit in the changing room at the International Stadium Yokohama for the ultimate showdown on Saturday November 2.





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