Wales Rugby Face Challenges Ahead as World Cup Draw Approaches

Local TV Sport

Wales will enter the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw on Wednesday positioned 11th in the latest World Rugby rankings, a spot confirmed by recent results despite a heavy defeat to New Zealand.   The ranking ensures Wales cannot rise into the top ten or fall further, with Japan’s narrow win over Georgia reshuffling the lower seedings and leaving Georgia 13th.

Transcript

00:00Wales entered the 2027 World Cup draw, positioned 11th in the latest Rugby World Rankings,

00:09a spot confirmed by recent results despite a heavy defeat to New Zealand.

00:14The ranking ensured Wales cannot rise into the top 10 or fall further,

00:19with Japan's narrow win over Georgia reshuffling the lower seedings and leaving Georgia 13th.

00:24The expanded 24-team tournament introduces a round of 16, giving more nations a shot at the knockout stages.

00:32Two top teams from each pool will progress, joined by the four best in third-placed nations.

00:38The knockout pairings will see pool winners face third-team's place initially,

00:42while runners-up could meet other runners-up or winners depending on pool outcomes.

00:48Observers have noted that some pathways could create an imbalance,

00:52such as the winner of Pool E, facing second-place teams in both the round of 16 and quarter-finals.

00:59Wales will need to navigate these challenges with a squad stretched by absences.

01:03Head coach Steve Tandy will be without 13 players for the clash against South Africa,

01:09which falls outside World Rugby's designated international window.

01:14Back three options are limited, with Louis Rees-Zamit back at Bristol and Josh Adams suspended.

01:20Scarlet's wing Ellis Mee, 22, will be among one of the new call-ups.

01:25Mee, who has contributed against Ireland in the last six nations,

01:29is impressed with the Scarlets with his aerial ability and broken field running.

01:33He's expected to add deaths to Wales' attack.

01:35Tandy is also likely to add reinforcements in the forwards with Nicky Smith and Rhys Kerr of unavailable.

01:45Well, our spraises, Garen Phillips and James Ratti are strong contenders to join the squad.

01:51Tandy said they are world champions, so we might have to get a few reinforcements in.

01:56We'll chat as a coaching group and with the medical staff.

01:59With the World Cup draw and Wales facing delicate balancing act,

02:04integrating new talent while managing absences and injuries ahead of a season,

02:09there will be the test of depth and resilience of the squad.

02:12Tandy said they are the best.

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