Rugby World Cup 2019: Shane Williams backs Wales after avoiding Group of Death – Exclusive

Wales were drawn in Pool D alongside Australia and Georgia for the 2019 World Cup, which takes place in Japan.

England, on the other hand, face another tough task to get out of their group after being pooled alongside France and Argentina.

Wales and Australia were drawn alongside England in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with the hosts crashing out of the tournament.

Wales could meet England again in the quarter-finals in 2019, with the victor setting up a likely semi-final clash with New Zealand.

But Williams is confident Gatland will have a strong team in place in two year’s time.

Asked if Wales can contend for the championship in 2019, former scrum-half Williams told Express Sport: “I can for a number of reasons.

“I see them getting through the pool stage and anything can happen from the quarter-finals. We’ve seen that before.

“I do think there’s a good crop of youngsters coming through in Wales at the moment that we will see in the next two years.

“We definitely have the talent and experience. Warren Gatland is a very good coach.”

New Zealander Gatland is currently away from Wales duty as he prepares the British and Irish Lions side to face the All Blacks this summer.

Gatland is contracted to Wales until after the 2019 World Cup and Williams, capped 87 times for his country and four for the Lions, has given the 53-year-old his backing.

“I’d like to think he will be there until the next World Cup,” he said.

“In between that there’s a lot of rugby to be played. He’s in charge of the Lions tour to New Zealand, one he truly believes he can win.

“Doing that and coming away from there successfully would give him massive confidence. It would give the Home Nation players massive confidence and before you know it this World Cup will be on our doorstep as well.

“We can be confident about the next World Cup.”

Japan will become the first Asian nation to host the Rugby World Cup and the excitement at the draw in Tokyo yesterday was evident.

Japan are in Pool A alongside Scotland and Ireland, who will both fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.

Scotland and Japan proved the surprise packages of the 2015 World Cup in England, with the Scots coming within seconds of beating Australia in the quarter-finals and the Japanese sensationally defeating South Africa.

And Williams expects the next World Cup to offer plenty more upsets.

“This time there’s no real Group of Death,” he said.

“You look at Ireland, Scotland and Japan. Japan will think they can get a big scalp.

“That’s how confident Japan are. That’s great for the hosts, they’ll be excited that they feel they can get through to the next stage.

“Looking at the other pools, England have a big ask against a physical group.

“They’re going to have to work hard to get through and that takes its toll physically and mentally as the competition goes on.

“Wales and Ireland should be the happiest of the home nations. New Zealand don’t care who they play.

“England have a tough, physical group that a lot of the other nations will hope takes its toll before the quarter-final.”