2019 RWC

The All Blacks on Wednesday discovered they will come up against the Springboks, Italy and two qualifiers at the showpiece event in Japan in two years' time.

New Zealand beat South Africa 20-18 at the semi-final stage of the last World Cup in England, before going on to retain the Webb Ellis Cup with a win over Australia.

Hansen is braced for a tough Pool B, but knows his defending champions will have to beat the best teams on the planet if they are to win the tournament for a third time in succession.

South Africa's slump to seventh in the world means the 1995 and 2007 champions will face the All Blacks in the pool stage for the first time in a blockbuster clash.

The All Blacks will have to beat the Springboks to top their pool, as they bid for a hat-trick of titles.

The All Blacks and England, currently the top two teams in the world, would meet in a tantalising semi-final if they both win their pools and got through their quarter-finals.

New Zealand will likely play Scotland, Ireland or Japan in the quarter-finals.