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| Close but no cigar: England let the pain of defeat sink in after losing the World Cup final to South Africa in October 2007 [GALLO/GETTY] |
Rugby Union World Cup finalists England avoided the three Tri-Nations teams in the draw for the 2011 tournament when they were grouped with Argentina, Scotland and two undecided qualifiers.
England, winners in 2003 and runners-up last year, had slipped out of the top four in the world rankings and missed out on a number one group seeding to Argentina.
Hosts New Zealand were drawn with France and Tonga, the first time in the history of the competition that the French – who beat the Kiwis in last year's quarter-finals – have been grouped with a Tri-Nations team.
Holders South Africa were grouped with Fiji and Six Nations champions Wales, while twice-winners Australia were pooled with Ireland and Italy.
Rare boost
Although the tournament is still three years away, England will be delighted to have avoided the teams who beat them heavily over the last three weekends at Twickenham in November.
The Pumas, who finished third in 2007, will be no pushovers but England's record against them is good despite a Twickenham defeat in 2006.
The presence of Scotland, their oldest rivals, in their group for the first time adds extra spice for England.
New Zealand, likely to start favourites even though they have not won the tournament since their 1987 triumph, have been knocked out twice by France.
South Africa were pushed all the way by Fiji in their Marseille quarter-final last year and given a tough workout by Wales last month.
The knockout format ensures that teams who qualify from the same pool can not meet again until the final, as happened last year with South Africa and England.
South Africa humiliated England 36-0 in the group stages before triumphing 15-6 in the final.
No team who have finished second in their pool have gone on to win the World Cup.
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