While there might not be a traditional ‘Pool of Death’ in this year’s Rugby World Cup, where multiple high ranking teams fight for two quarterfinal spots, there will be an equally, if not more, exciting pool. Pool C will have Australia (6th World Ranking, 81.80 points), Wales (9th, 78.08), Georgia (13th, 76.23) Fiji (14th, 74.84), and Portugal (16th, 67.62). The top and bottom ranked teams in Pool C only have a position difference of 10 spots, whereas Pool A the difference is 19 (2 vs 21), Pool B is 18 (1 vs 19), and Pool D is 16 (6 vs 22).

In June 2022 we posted an article discussing the improvement of Italy and their recent win over Wales to finish off the 2022 Six Nations on a high note, as well as their growing staple of young exciting talent and recent age grade success. Well Italy went out and gave a great display in the Autumn Nations Tournament last year.

The 2018 season was probably the greatest season USA Rugby has ever had. The MLR had just been created, the Eagles won the Americas Rugby Championship, defeated both Scotland and Samoa for the first ever and finished the season ranked 12th in the world. The US finished the year 10-2, only losing to Ireland and the Maori All Blacks, coming away with a margin of 366 points scored to 262 conceded.