How the 2023 Rugby World Cup will play out as draw gives Gatland a chance and two of top four guaranteed to fail

The draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup will give Gatland a chance.

Warren Gatland is back to lead Wales to a fourth global tournament. The draw gives him a chance to go deep into the competition. Two of the current top four teams cannot make it to the final four. Wales can reach the semi-finals without facing any of current world's top five teams.

Wales are ranked ninth in the world at the close of 2022. They will play Australia, Fiji, Portugal, Georgia and Australia at Rugby World Cup 2023. Their first match is against Fiji on September 10. The next is with Portugal on Saturday, September 16, then with Australia on October 7.

The draw for the Rugby World Cup was made in December 2020. The seeds were based on the world rankings at the start of that year. Ireland and France were the second seeds. New Zealand and French are in the same Pool (A), Ireland in Pool B and South Africa in B. Wales are tied to Pool D with England, Argentina and Japan. England are favourites to win the group.

France are the favourites to win the World Cup on home soil. New Zealand are second, South Africa third, England fourth and Australia fifth. Ireland are currently in sixth place, despite their world number one status. Wales are seventh favourite to lift the trophy at 25/1.

The Rugby World Cup 2023 pools are: Pool A: New Zealand, France, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Romania, Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal, England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa, Chile.