Cips and co handed kind world cup draw

3:58pm Monday 1st December 2008

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DANNY Cipriani and his Wasps team-mates could lock horns with Felipe Contepomi again in next year's World Cup after England were paired with Argentina.

Cipriani and Contepomi are likely to cross swords at Twickenham in the Heineken Cup next month, and the clash of the fly halves could be a dress rehearsal for the 2011 World Cup.

Despite slipping out the top band this autumn, England have been handed a kind Cup draw.

Defeats to Australia, South African and New Zealand have seen them slip to fifth in the world rankings, with Argentina replacing them in fourth.

But England manager Martin Johnson was a relieved man yesterday afternoon as his team avoided the Tri-Nations teams in the World Cup draw.

England have been drawn in Pool B, with Argentina, Scotland, the top European qualifier and a play-off winner, while Wales have drawn South Africa, Fiji and qualifiers from Oceana and Africa.

Australia, Ireland and Italy have also been grouped together, while France and New Zealand join Tonga in Pool A.