SYDNEY ¨C If South Africa is to claim a third straight World Cup and fifth in total it is likely to have to get through a blockbuster quarterfinal against second-ranked New Zealand after Wednesday¡¯s draw for the expanded 24-team tournament.
Japan, meanwhile, was drawn into a group with France, the United States and Samoa.
The new format robbed the draw of much of its pool-stage jeopardy and there will be few big early clashes, aside from host Australia taking on the All Blacks in a probable tournament opener ¡ª the first meeting between the neighbors in the pool stage.
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