The All Blacks now know at least two sides they'll face in pool play at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan after the draw was made in Kyoto on Wednesday (NZ time).
The defending champions have been drawn in Pool B, alongside their great rivals the Springboks and Six Nations side Italy. It is the sixth time the All Blacks will meet Italy in pool play while it is the first time they've landed alongside South Africa in their pool.
Twenty teams have been drawn into four pools, each comprising of five teams. Eight teams are still to qualify.
England has yet again be drawn in the pool of death, landing alongside France who are on the up and Argentina who's experienced significant growth in the past eight years and who made the semi-finals of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The draw makes likely a potential quarter final against Scotland who will face the tough task behind Ireland of beating Japan to make it through pool play. If they fail to do so, the All Blacks could face a quarter final against the hosts.
Laughing all the way to the quarters is the Wallabies after landing one of their best Rugby World Cup draws since 2007, drawn alongside Wales and Georgia.
The pools are:
Pool A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, Play-off winner.
Pool B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Africa 1, Repechage winner.
Pool C: England, France, Argentina, Americas 1, Oceania 2.
Pool D: Australia, Wales, Georgia, Oceania 1, Americas 2.
Newshub.
