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RWC 2019 pool draw to change bookies' minds?

Cape Town - No surprise that the world No 1-ranked All Blacks have been installed as overwhelming favourites for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Steve Hansen's New Zealanders will be searching for a hat-trick of Webb Ellis Cup triumphs - and a fourth title overall - in the tournament which kicks off in 2 years, 4 months and 11 days from now.

Tournament chances for those title contenders will certainly rise and fall between now and then, starting with Wednesday's pool draw.

At 10:00 SA time on Wednesday, the 12 confirmed teams will learn their fate in the draw to be conducted in Kyoto.

New Zealand, England, Australia and Ireland will each head one of the four pools.

From Band 2 will come Scotland, Wales, South Africa and France, while Argentina, Japan, Georgia and Italy make up Band 3.

The remaining 8 teams will be deciding following the completion of various qualifiers in Oceania, Europe and the Americas.

Leading SA bookmakers Sportingbet have the All Blacks as 11/10 favourites, followed by England at 4/1 and Australia at 7/1.

The Springboks can be backed at 9/1, with Ireland on offer at 14/1.

France (20/1) and Argentina and Wales (both 20/1) represent the last of the likely title challengers.

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