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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