Wednesday 10 May 2017 15:50, UK
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend says playing hosts Japan is a mouth-watering prospect but it will make his side's 2019 World Cup campaign more challenging.
Scotland were grouped with Ireland and Japan in Pool A for the tournament along with a European qualifier - Romania currently top the rankings - and a cross-continental play-off winner.
The Scots avoided England, Australia and New Zealand among the top seeds while drawing Japan ahead of Italy, Argentina and Georgia.
Scotland have never lost to Japan and beat them in the 2015 tournament after Eddie Jones' side had shocked South Africa, but Townsend knows the host nation, now led by New Zealander Jamie Joseph, will be formidable opponents at home.
The 2015 World Cup was a great tournament with some brilliant rugby played and I'm sure the next one in Japan will be even better.
Townsend said: "Japan obviously made a memorable impact at the World Cup two years ago, beating South Africa, and will have tremendous support going into the tournament.
"They'll be targeting getting out of the pool and I'm sure that we'll see them play close to their best in every game.
"We know how dangerous they can be, having played them in the World Cup and on tour last year. The majority of our players who will feature in the next World Cup have already had that first contact with them and the style of rugby they aspire to play. It's likely they're going to continue to improve over the next few years.
"Playing the hosts makes it a bigger challenge but one we will relish. It's pretty much guaranteed that we'll play them in front of a sell-out crowd. That will be great motivation for our players."
Ireland have never been beyond the quarter-finals and lost at Murrayfield in this year's Six Nations.
But Townsend said: "Ireland have been one of the most competitive and most-improved sides over the past few years and a lot of that is to do with their quality of players and the influence of head coach Joe Schmidt.
"They have shown real consistency over the past two or three years. They are one of the best teams in the world. Whichever side we drew from the top band was always going to be very tough.
"On the other hand, we know Ireland pretty well and have a couple more opportunities to play them before the World Cup, while we also know a lot about their players through the Guinness Pro12."
The draw, in Kyoto, came less than 24 hours after Townsend announced his first squad for Scotland's summer tour on his first day in charge, and further whetted the former Glasgow head coach's appetite for his new role.
"The first reaction is one of excitement that we know which pool we'll be in," the 44-year-old said. "The Rugby World Cup now comes in to sharper focus for everyone and it looks, from the draw today, like it's going to be another great tournament.
"It's a new venue for the World Cup and I'm sure there'll be a lot of interest in our pool draw, especially when we get there, because we're taking on the host country.
"The 2015 World Cup was a great tournament with some brilliant rugby played and I'm sure the next one in Japan will be even better."
