The Rugby World Cup 2011 pavillion that made its debut in Paris last year will be re-sited next to Tower Bridge in London ahead of the pool draw © Getty Images

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Teams: Argentina | Australia | England | France | Ireland | Italy | New Zealand | Scotland | South Africa | Wales

External Links: IRB World Rankings

The International Rugby Board have confirmed the procedure for the Rugby World Cup 2011 draw that will take place in London on December 1.

For the first time the draw will use the IRB World Rankings to seed the 12 pre-qualified teams and as in 2007, there will be four pools of five teams. The top three positions, or bands, in each pool will be filled by the 12 pre-qualified teams from the last RWC.

The 12 pre-qualified teams are: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga and Wales.

From these 12 teams, the top four in the IRB World Rankings on December 1, 2008 will be allocated to band one - or the top line in each pool - and drawn randomly into the pools. The next four teams will be allocated into band two with the remaining four teams allocated into band three.

Banding of 12 automatic qualified teams:
Band 1: Top four ranked qualified teams (1 to 4 in IRB World Rankings)
Band 2: Next four ranked qualified teams (5 to 8 in IRB World Rankings)
Band 3: Bottom four ranked qualified teams (according to IRB World Rankings)

This means that teams ranked in the top four of the IRB World Rankings on December 1, 2008 will not be drawn in the same RWC 2011 pool. Equally, a team ranked five to eight in the rankings will definitely be in the same pool as a team ranked one to four.

At Rugby World Cup 2007 in France each pool had one semi-finalist and one quarter-finalist (automatic qualifiers) from the 2003 tournament, with the other three places filled via the qualification system. As a result England, as the reigning champions, were grouped with South Africa and a similar fate awaits them at the next global showpiece.

Argentina moved up to fourth in the latest IRB World Rankings, released today, with a 22-14 victory over Italy in Turin, replacing England, who drop to fifth after they lost 28-14 against Australia at Twickenham.

As a result Argentina now occupy one of the top four positions. If they remain there, the Pumas would avoid being in the same RWC 2011 pool as the top three - currently New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

England will be hoping that Ireland can defeat Argentina on Saturday, whilst the RWC 2007 finalists will hope to defeat world champions South Africa in order to gain valuable rankings points.

France, whose 42-17 victory over the Pacific Islanders does not count towards the IRB World Rankings, could also end up in fourth position if they defeat Australia on Saturday, and other results go in their favour.

South Africa's 14-10 win over Scotland cemented their place in the top four, whilst Australia are now almost certainly in the top band as well after they defeated England 28-14.

Ireland did not lose any rankings points despite a 22-3 home defeat against New Zealand as the rating gap between the two teams was too big. But the Irish know that defeat to Argentina next Saturday, combined with a Scotland win over Canada, will see them drop into ninth in the rankings and in the third band of teams for the RWC 2011 Draw. Scotland would move up to eighth.

There are also eight qualifying places available for RWC 2011. For the Pool Allocation Draw they will be allocated into bands four and five of each pool.

Banding of eight teams yet to qualify:
Band 4: Oceania 1, Europe 1, Europe 2, Americas 1
Band 5: Africa 1, Asia 1, Americas 2, Play Off place

Following the RWC 2011 pool matches, the knockout rounds will follow the same structure as RWC 2003 and RWC 2007. The full structure is as follows:

Quarter Final 1: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
Quarter Final 2: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
Quarter Final 3: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
Quarter Final 4: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C

Semi-Final 1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
Semi-Final 2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

Bronze Final: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2

Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2

Latest IRB World Rankings: (as of November 17, 2008)

1 (1) New Zealand 92.41pts
2 (2) South Africa 88.45
3 (3) Australia 86.70
4 (5) Argentina 82.82
5 (4) England 82.11
6 (6) France 80.13
7 (7) Wales 79.58
8 (8) Ireland 77.18
9 (9) Scotland 76.76
10 (11) Fiji 75.24
11 (10) Italy 74.64
12 (12) Samoa 72.57
13 (13) Tonga 70.05
14 (14) Georgia 69.43
15 (15) Canada 69.12
16 (16) Japan 67.74
17 (17) Romania 67.20
18 (18) Russia 64.63
19 (19) USA 63.86
20 (20) Uruguay 62.55