England and Scotland drawn together

4:09pm Monday 1st December 2008

England and Scotland have been drawn in the same group for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

But both countries avoided red-hot tournament favourites New Zealand at Monday's draw, carried out in central London.

England, 2003 World Cup winners and 2007 runners-up, must overcome Scotland, Argentina, plus one other European country to emerge from qualifying and a play-off winner.

Wales have been drawn with reigning world champions South Africa, Fiji - the team that knocked them out of last year's World Cup - Oceania 1 (probably Samoa) and Africa 1, while Ireland are pooled with Australia, Italy, Europe 2 and Americas 2.

The draw could have been far crueller to England following their miserable autumn Test series in which Australia, South Africa and New Zealand racked up a total of 102 points in smashing Martin Johnson's men at Twickenham.

And the emphasis will now be on England winning their group to set up a possible quarter-final showdown with France.

England and Scotland have met once before in World Cup history - a 1991 semi-final in Edinburgh that England shaded 9-6 before losing to Australia in the final.

England's only previous World Cup meeting with Argentina came in South Africa 13 years ago and resulted in a hard-fought 24-18 success.

Scotland, world-ranked ninth to England's sixth, will not be too unhappy at the draw, given they could have been bracketed in the same pool as New Zealand and France.

The All Blacks' group, which also includes Tonga, Americas 1 and Asia 1, gives them a chance to avenge their shock 2007 World Cup quarter-final defeat against Les Bleus in Cardiff.