Wallabies and All Blacks drawn into same group for first time at 2027 Rugby World Cup

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt could be the centre of a trans-Tasman tug-of-war after Australia and New Zealand were pitted in the same group at a Rugby World Cup for the very first time.

There were groans of excitement when the All Blacks landed alongside the Wallabies in Pool A at Wednesday night's much-anticipated draw for the 2027 global showpiece in Australia.

The southern hemisphere superpowers will both be unbackable favourites to beat minnows Chile and Hong Kong China in their other two pool matches, leaving the winners of the Bledisloe Cup-like battle certain to top the group.

What is anything but certain, though, is Schmidt's future beyond his two-and-a-half-year tenure with the Wallabies.

The New Zealander will hand over the Wallabies coaching reins to Les Kiss next August after answering an SOS call from Rugby Australia to stay on until after his successor completes his 2026 Super Rugby commitments with Queensland.

Schmidt had initially been due to finish up after this year's series against the touring British & Irish Lions before twice having his contract extended by Rugby Australia.

Asked on Wednesday night if he would consider staying on in some capacity — most likely as an advisor to good friend Kiss — until the end of the World Cup, Schmidt offered a coy, "not at this stage".

"At the end of July is when I finish, and I've just hugely enjoyed the group," he said.

"They work really hard for what they get and it will be tough to walk away and leave them in what I believe is good hands."

Schmidt has a son with severe epilepsy in New Zealand.

"So some of the other priorities I've got … I've had two weeks at home in the last five months," he said.

"So I think getting home a bit more often will be the preference at this stage."

Pressed further on whether Kiss could twist his arm, Schmidt said: "Yeah, look, I've had the privilege of coaching in three World Cups and loved and hated them in different measures depending on how things work out.

"I've been good friends going back a fair way with Les and so we'd always be chatting anyway."

Schmidt was an All Blacks assistant coach at the 2023 World Cup in France, when New Zealand lost an epic final 12-11 against the Springboks.

The 60-year-old would be an obvious target for the NZRU, especially given the draw and his insight on the Wallabies.

And he didn't completely close the door on a return to the All Blacks, leaving the door ajar when quizzed about the prospect.

"I'm not looking to be involved at all, either side," Schmidt said.

"I may well be in the stadium watching. I'd say that I'll just be delighted to be there and spectating because Rugby World Cups are really special occasions.

"Having been at three of them, just the whole atmosphere around them.

"It builds into a crescendo for match days and some of the gatherings around stadiums and those sort of things.

"I'm just excited that it's only two years away now and I can't wait for it to come up and, in some ways, I can't wait not to be involved so that I can just enjoy it because it's pretty nerve-wracking when you're in the midst."

The result of their historic first pool showdown with the All Blacks will shape the seventh-ranked and struggling Wallabies' path to an improbable fifth World Cup final.

If they conquer the mighty All Blacks, the Wallabies would almost certainly face two-time defending champions South Africa in the quarterfinals.

If they lose to New Zealand, the hosts would likely meet Eddie Jones's Japan in the round of 16, then England in the quarters and either Ireland or Argentina in the semifinals.

"In a World Cup, if you want to win it, you've got to beat the best teams," skipper Harry Wilson said after Wednesday night's draw.

"There are a lot of potential paths you can go down.

"But if we get the Springboks in a quarter-final, it will be exciting. It's a challenge which we're going to have to be ready for."

2027 Rugby World Cup groups

Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong China

Pool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania

Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada

Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal

Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa

Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe

AAP