Wallabies drawn with Ireland, Italy for World Cup
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The Wallabies will play Ireland and Italy in the group stages of the tournament. (AFP: Pascal Guyot)
Australia faces a likely World Cup quarter-final against South Africa or Wales in 2011 after the draw was announced in London overnight.
The Wallabies will play Ireland and Italy in the group stages of the tournament in New Zealand, along with with qualifiers from Europe and the Americas.
New Zealand and France will meet in the pool stage in a repeat of last year's quarter-final, while world champion South Africa has been drawn with sides including Wales and Fiji.
One of England, Argentina and Scotland will fail to make the last eight, after the three countries were drawn together in Pool B.
Australia breezed through its pool in France last year only to lose to England in the quarter-finals.
But Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock predicted his men would be properly toughened-up were they to reach the last eight in 2011.
"Having gone through the World Cup last year, you do want to have a couple of tough matches and that's certainly what we will face against Italy and Ireland," Mortlock said.
Pool 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
Quarter Final 1: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
Quarter Final 2: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
Quarter Final 3: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
Quarter Final 4: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
Semi-Final 1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
Semi-Final 2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Third place play-off: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2
Grand Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
-ABC/AFP
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