All Blacks Happy With Rugby World Cup Draw

20 May 2002

The All Blacks are happy with the draw they have been given for Rugby World Cup 2003.

All Blacks Manager Andrew Martin said the Pool D draw, announced today in Sydney, would see New Zealand playing Wales and possibly Canada, Italy and Uruguay. If New Zealand is the top qualifier in that group it would play either England or South Africa in the quarter-finals, depending on their finishing order in their pool.

Mr Martin said the draw for Rugby World Cup 2003 was structured around where teams finished in Rugby World Cup 1999.

"To win Rugby World Cup 2003 you need to win your games. In that respect it doesn't matter what pool the All Blacks are drawn in. No pool is easy because each of the nations that qualify for Rugby World Cup 2003 will be striving to perform to their best.

"The venues for the All Blacks in pool play will be Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. They are cities with strong Kiwi populations, so the All Blacks will be looking for strong support from ex-pat New Zealanders."

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