With 16 of the 20 teams confirmed for next year's Tournament, the focus of qualifiers now switches to Europe and Asia over the coming months...
Europe 1 and Europe 2 will be determined in the second round of the six-team European Nations Cup, which is played from February 6 to March 20.
And with pressure building on the teams, the race to RWC 2011 is perhaps the most competitive to date with just two points separating the top three teams.
Georgia currently leads the way, but Russia (second) and Portugal (third) are all snapping at its heels, while Romania, Spain and Germany are also all looking to get back into the qualification picture.
With Russia beating Portugal 18-14 in Lisbon in round 1 last year, the return match in Sotchi on February 6 shapes as not only the most important in the history of Russian Rugby, but also one of the most critical in the global qualifying process.
Europe 1 will join Pool B at RWC 2011 and Europe 2 will join Pool C, setting up the possibility an historic Russia v USA match in New Plymouth.
In Asia, traditional qualifier and RWC 2019 host Japan will meet Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Korea and Singapore in the 2010 Asian 5 Nations.
The qualification tournament kicks off on April 25 with the last match on May 24 when the winner will be confirmed as Asia 1 and will join the All Blacks in Pool A.
The final qualifier place will be decided by single match semi-finals in June pitting Africa 2 (Tunisia) against Europe 3 and Americas 2 (Uruguay) against Asia 2.
The winners of these matches will play a home and away series in November to determine the 20th and final qualifier to join RWC 2011 Pool B.
To follow the qualifier results please click here.
