Ireland to meet Wallabies and Italy

Ireland will meet Australia and Italy in Pool C of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand after the draw was made in London this afternoon. Declan Kidney's side will also meet a European and American qualifier and are likely to face either South Africa or Wales if they progress to the quarter-finals.

Two-time winners Australia will be formidable opponents and strongly supported so close to home but on current form Robbie Deans's side would arguably be the preferable opponent from the top table.

Argentina are the weakest of the top seeds but given the World Cup history with the Pumas, which most recently resulted in defeat for Ireland in 2007, Kidney may well be pleased to see them grouped with England and Scotland in Pool B.

Hosts New Zealand will renew hostilities with France after they were beaten by Les Bleus in a Cardiff quarter-final last year. Tonga have been grouped alongside them in Pool A.

Of all the top European nations, Wales face the most daunting task having been grouped with world champions South Africa and Fiji in Pool D. The draw becomes even less attractive for the defending Six Nations champions if, as expected, Samoa top the Oceania qualifiers.

Given their involvement in the Six Nations, the Azzurri are a familiar foe for Ireland. They have made progress in recent years but, on current form at least, are an easier proposition than fellow third seeds Scotland and Fiji.

Kidney won't know the identity of all his opponents until 2010 when qualifying ends but it is hard to see past Georgia, Romania and Portugal for the two remaining European spots, while Canada and the USA are favourites for the top two places from the Americas.

If they progress from their group, Ireland are likely to face either Wales or the Springboks in the quarter-finals. Topping the group would see them drawn against the second-placed team in Pool D, while second would see them paired with the winners.

Speaking at the draw today, Kidney and captain Brian O'Driscoll were reluctant to look too far ahead but the coach admitted that as second seeds Ireland will be in for some special treatment from the lower ranked teams

"It is a fantastic way to kick off the competition but it's so far out it is impossible to say who will be around and what players will showing form," said the coach. "Ireland and Australia have played in World Cups before and it will add spice to the Ireland and Italy games over the next three years. When you are ranked liked we were, second in the pool, you are the target team for a lot of the others and everyone will be looking to have a go at us."

O'Driscoll added: "I have learnt to not look too far ahead. The game can be fickle at times and I am enjoying the now and not looking that far ahead.

"When the body gets a bit older you learn to appreciate each game as it comes and if in three years time I have the wherewithal to play at this level and form included it would be fantastic to play in a fourth World Cup."

Ireland have met the Wallabies four times on the biggest stage and each resulted in an Australian win. The latest instalment came when they were beaten by just one point in 2003. It was a result that consigned Eddie O'Sullivan's side to second in their group and a quarter-final defeat to France.

Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock is looking forward to renewing the rivalry

"I was watching but it was an amazing pool match. Ireland were very close to winning and almost deserved to win, it was that close so there has been some decent history between Ireland and Australia in the World Cup and no doubt in three years time we will make some new history," he said.

Italy coach Nick Mallett said he was "not too unhappy" with the draw and suggested Ireland may not

"Ireland at the moment are a lot better than Italy, three years down the line we are not sure how many of their players are still going to be around and what sort of players Italy will have in three years time," he said.

"It is interesting that Ireland also didn't make the quarter finals last time and neither did Italy so in a sense we are not too unhappy about the draw we have got."

RWC 2011 Draw

Pool A
New Zealand
France
Tonga
Americas 1
Asia 1

Pool B
Argentina
England
Scotland
Europe 1
Play-off winner

Pool C
Australia
Ireland
Italy
Europe 2
Americas 2

Pool D
South Africa
Wales
Fiji
Oceania 1
Africa 1