Ireland, England and Scotland had a sense of deja vu when the 1999 rugby union World Cup finals draw was made in Paris yesterday as they drew three teams that they recently beat in the qualifiers. Ireland will face Romania, who were beaten 53-35 at Lansdowne Road last month, England were joined in Pool B by Italy, against whom they scraped a 23-15 win last month, in Pool E and Scotland, who have not had much to cheer about in the past few months received some good news when Spain, whom they destroyed 85-3 last Saturday, were drawn as the third member of Pool A.

Australia and the United States are the other teams in Ireland's pool. Scotland will have to face South Africa while England must take on the might of the All Blacks. Wales drew Argentina, Western Samoa and Japan.

POOL A

South Africa Scotland Spain

Winner of play-off 1

POOL B

New Zealand England Italy

Winner of play-off 2

POOL C

France Fiji Canada Namibia

POOL D

Wales Argentina Western Samoa Japan

POOL E

Australia Ireland United States Romania