Day: December 8, 2025 Page 1 of 2

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has stressed the crucial need to break the team’s long-standing winless streak against Ireland before the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. For the third consecutive tournament, the Scots and Irish have been drawn together in the same pool. This time joined by Uruguay and Portugal in Pool D.

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These matchups, Townsend says, are not just another set of games. They represent an opportunity for Scotland to regain confidence against a side that has dominated them in recent years. The two nations are scheduled to meet twice in the 2026 and 2027 Six Nations Championships. Giving Scotland a chance to end an 11-match losing streak in the fixture before the Rugby World Cup kicks off.

It would be a huge boost if we managed to get on the right side of the result for a change, Townsend said. We know the challenge that lies ahead. Dublin, at the final match of the Championship, will be incredibly demanding. But we performed exceptionally well the last time we played there. We’ll be doing everything possible to claim a win.

He added that failing to overcome Ireland in these matches would make Scotland’s path at the Rugby World Cup considerably more difficult. Placing even greater pressure on the team during the tournament. Scotland, as one of the second-seeded teams, managed to avoid the top three seeds in the draw.

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Scotland Faces Challenging Pool Ahead of Rugby World Cup Knockouts

The world champions and current Rugby World Cup holders, South Africa, were drawn with Italy. New Zealand ended up in the same pool as hosts Australia, and England joined Wales in their group. Ireland currently sits fourth in the world rankings, five positions above Scotland. While Uruguay and Portugal are ranked 14th and 20th, respectively.

You always face a team from the top pot, and they are there for a reason. They are very strong squads, Townsend explained. This draw is slightly different from the previous two World Cups, particularly the last one, when we faced South Africa. That time, we had two of the leading teams in the world in our pool. Now, some second- and third-placed teams progress, but our goal remains to win the pool.

Winning the pool would provide Scotland with an easier path to the quarter-finals and semi-finals, Townsend noted. While the team respects all three of its rivals, Ireland has defeated Scotland steadily over the past several years, meaning Scotland must improve knowingly to achieve victory. The event itself will run from 1 October to 13 November 2027, covering seven spots across seven Australian cities.

For the first time, the competition has expanded to include 24 teams. Forming six pools of four teams rather than the previous format of four pools of five. The top two teams from each pool, along with the four best third-placed teams, will progress to a knockout stage that now includes a historic last-16 round.

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Rugby World Cup Final: Scotland Must Crack Ireland Code to Advance in RWC 2027

If Scotland tops Pool D, they are likely to face a team finishing third in Pool B, E, or F, which could involve matches against Georgia, the United States, or Tonga, depending on final pool outcomes. Advancing past that stage could set up a Rugby World Cup 2027 quarter-final clash against Argentina, assuming the South Americans win Pool C and defeat another third-placed side.

Conversely, if Scotland finishes second, they may face France, who are widely expected to win Pool E. The complete match schedule will be released on 3 February 2026, with pre-sale tickets for registered fans going on sale from 18 February. If there is one team that Scotland supporters did not want to be drawn against in their World Cup pool, it is undoubtedly Ireland.

While some might argue South Africa could fill that role, the Scots rarely face the Springboks, meaning they have not experienced the same sustained psychological pressure that Ireland has applied over the past decade. Ireland has defeated Scotland in their last 11 encounters, including some of Scotland’s poorest World Cup performances in 2019 and 2023.

Despite speculation that Ireland might be past their peak, with an aging squad and a few key players unlikely to participate in another Rugby World Cup, Scotland cannot rely on assumptions. Townsend and his squad will therefore enter the competition with a clear target: overcoming Ireland to secure momentum and set the stage for a deeper run in the Rugby World Cup 2027.

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The opening weekend of the Investec Champions Cup delivered high drama. Rugby World Cup 2027 none more so than Northampton Saints’ thrilling 35–27 victory over Pau. The English side, last season’s beaten finalists, had to dig deep in France, overcoming a red card, a seven-point deficit. And relentless pressure from the home team. In the end.

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It was George Hendy’s late try and a final penalty from Fin Smith that secured a hard-earned win at Stade du Hameau. With the match tied at 27–27 and only two minutes left, Northampton needed something special. Hendy provided exactly that, sprinting down the touchline and diving over in the corner to give his team the lead.

Smith then stepped up moments later, landing a composed penalty to seal the result and spark celebrations from the travelling supporters. The game swung back and forth from the start. Pau struck first through captain Facundo Isa, and later added another try from winger Gregoire Arfeuil. Northampton answered both times.

Initially, through James Ramm and later through Fraser Dingwall, they kept themselves within touching distance. Ramm, who was one of the standout performers of the first half, went over for his second try early in the second period to hand Saints the advantage. But the match took a major turn when Ramm was sent off for a tackle in the air, leaving Northampton with 14 men for the remainder of the contest.

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Rugby World Cup: Gloucester Power Past Castres with Late Surge at Kingsholm

Pau quickly capitalised. Arfeuil crossed again, Rugby World Cup and with the conversion, the French side moved ahead 24–17. Yet Northampton refused to fold. Scrum-half Alex Mitchell darted over for a converted try to tie the match at 24–24. Smith and Pau’s Axel Desperes then exchanged penalties to bring the score to 27–27. Setting the stage for the dramatic finish created by Hendy’s decisive score.

Elsewhere in the Champions Cup, Gloucester produced a strong performance at Kingsholm, defeating Castres 34–14 and finishing with a flourish. The visitors opened the scoring with a converted try in the ninth minute, before Gloucester levelled the match. Castres struck again through Loris Zarantonello. But Will Trenholm responded to bring the hosts back on terms at 14–14 with twenty minutes remaining.

Gloucester then took full control, kicking two penalties and finishing the job with two late tries from substitute Charlie Atkinson, who also secured the team’s bonus point. Edinburgh enjoyed a winning return to the competition after three years away, beating Toulon 33–20 in an impressive display that earned them a bonus point.

Early on, they looked to be in trouble as Scotland international Ben White crossed for two tries for Toulon, giving the French side a 17–10 lead. Pierre Schoeman had earlier struck back for Edinburgh, but the visitors needed another momentum shift. They found it when Ben Vellacott finished a sharp move to reduce the deficit to two points.

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Rugby World Cup Final: Edinburgh Capitalise on Yellow Card to Seal Bonus-Point Victory

Cammy Scott then nudged Edinburgh ahead with a penalty, and although Darcy Graham had a try disallowed for a knock-on, Rugby World Cup Final, Edinburgh continued to grow in confidence. Toulon’s David Ribbans received a yellow card for striking Liam McConnell, and Edinburgh seized the numerical advantage. Sustained pressure at the scrum produced a penalty try on the hour mark.

With Toulon struggling to regain control, Boan Venter crashed over six minutes from time to seal the Scottish side’s bonus-point win. In the European Challenge Cup, Perpignan finally ended their long and painful run of defeats. After losing 11 straight matches in the Top 14, they delivered a convincing 41–17 victory over the Dragons, who remain winless in 2025.

Even after losing Duncan Paia’aua to a red card in just the 14th minute, Perpignan dominated. They led 17–0 at half-time, controlled territory, and kept the Dragons scoreless until the 54th minute, ensuring there was never any real threat of a comeback. Exeter Chiefs also impressed, launching their Challenge Cup campaign with a commanding 42–12 win over the Cheetahs at Sandy Park.

They scored six tries, five of them in a rampant first half. Len Ikitau, Greg Fisilau, Harvey Skinner, Scott Sio, and Henry Slade all crossed before the break, with Slade converting every try and finishing with 17 personal points. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso added a second-half try to round off a dominant performance that moves Exeter to the top of Pool 3 alongside Ulster and Stade Français.

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Head coach Gregor Townsend says Scotland need to end their long losing streak against Ireland before the two sides meet at the Rugby World Cup 2027. Scotland have not beaten Ireland in 11 matches, and Townsend believes getting a win soon would make a major difference to their confidence. And momentum is going into the biggest tournament in the sport.

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This will be the third World Cup in a row where Scotland and Ireland are drawn in the same pool. They will be joined in Pool D by Uruguay and Portugal. Between now and the World Cup, Scotland and Ireland will face each other twice in the Six Nations in both 2026 and 2027. Townsend is clear about what he wants: a win, and sooner rather than later.

It would help massively if we got on the right side of the result for a change, he said. He admitted the challenge will be tough, especially with a match scheduled in Dublin at the end of the Six Nations, but believes Scotland are capable of turning it around. We played really well last time we were out in Dublin, and we’ll be doing all we can to win that game, Townsend said.

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Rugby World Cup: Ireland Lead Tough Pool D Rankings

It’ll be more difficult in the World Cup if we haven’t managed to beat Ireland in the next two seasons. In the draw, Scotland were in the second seeding group. That allowed them to avoid three of the sport’s superpowers: defending world champions South Africa, New Zealand, and England.

South Africa will share a pool with Italy, New Zealand were drawn with hosts Australia, and England will face Wales. Ireland, the top seed in Scotland’s pool, is currently ranked fourth in the world, five places above Scotland. Uruguay are ranked 14th, while Portugal sits at 20th.

Townsend said he expected Scotland to face a strong top seed no matter what. They’re in that first pot for a reason; they’re very good teams, he said. He explained that the World Cup format has changed from the previous tournaments.

In 2019 and 2023, Scotland were drawn against both Ireland and South Africa, who at the time were two of the best teams in world rugby. This time, finishing second in the pool would be enough to reach the knockout rounds, and some third-place sides will also advance.

You want to get out of the pool by winning it, Townsend said, “because it’s an easier road to the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The Rugby World Cup 2027 will take place in Australia from 1 October to 13 November.

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Rugby World Cup Final: World Cup Expands to 24 Teams

It will be staged across seven venues in seven cities. For the first time, the tournament will expand to 24 teams. Instead of four pools of five, there will be six pools of four. The top two teams in each pool, plus the four best third-placed teams, will reach a new round of 16.

If Scotland finishes first in Pool D, they would meet a team that finishes third in Pools B, E, or F. Based on current rankings, that could mean matches against Georgia, the United States, or Tonga. If Scotland win that round-of-16 game, they may face Argentina in the quarter-finals, assuming Argentina top Pool C and win their own opening knockout game.

However, if Scotland come second in their pool, they are likely to face France in the round of 16, a much tougher route. France are strong favourites to win Pool E. The full match schedule will be announced on 3 February 2026, and pre-sale tickets for registered fans will open on 18 February.

Ireland, ranked fourth in the world and coached by former England international Andy Farrell. Have reached the World Cup quarter-finals eight times but have never gone further. They have played Scotland 143 times, winning 72 and losing 66, and Ireland has not lost to Scotland in their last 11 meetings.

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