Wait for it ... Flat opening schedule will leave 2027 Rugby World Cup stalling at the gates

The Rugby World Cup, over the last couple of editions, has established a tradition of matches that immediately set the tone and remind fans why the tournament is the pinnacle of the sport.

Think South Africa versus the All Blacks in 2019, or New Zealand’s humdinger with France in front of a packed Stade de France in 2023 and the Springboks against Scotland in the Pool of Death at that very same tournament.

The 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, however, appears set to break that tradition — and it may not be beneficial for the tournament.

Looking at the opening games, the competition could be heading for a sluggish start, with a noticeable absence of Tier One matchups in the first week.

On paper, the strongest fixture is South Africa against Italy in Pool B, yet even that clash offers limited excitement. The Azzurri have made strides in the last few years, but in their most recent encounters, they have been no match for Rassie Erasmus’ double World Cup-winning Springboks.

In a tournament where the Boks will bid to become the first team to win three World Cups in a row, fans have been robbed of a potentially epic opener between hosts Australia and neighbours New Zealand. A non-Bledisloe Cup clash to launch a home World Cup would have been an intense game that sparked the tournament from the outset.

Instead, the Wallabies will start against Hong Kong — a fixture unlikely to test them. The All Blacks, meanwhile, face Chile in their first match and will only meet Australia in their second pool game a week later.

This draw highlights a clear flaw in the expanded 24-team format, where top nations are placed in noticeably softer pools. While World Rugby has defended the schedule, insisting the focus is on growing the game, it raises an important question: does an opening week dominated by potential 50-point blowouts really achieve that goal?

Without a cliffhanger to capture neutral fans early, will spectators really be motivated to flock to stadiums or screens for one-sided contests against so-called weaker nations? Whether this approach genuinely grows the game is something that may only be answered in October 2026.

For now, there is little to look forward to in the opening week, aside from the Springboks’ clash. The most mouth-watering fixtures in other pools — Ireland vs Scotland, Argentina vs Fiji, and England vs Wales — all arrive later.

Any of these matches could have served as a compelling opening duel in their respective pools for a more exciting first round at the spectacle.