Ireland international Jamie Heaslip says he is "happy" with Ireland's pool draw for the 2019 World Cup.
Joe Schmidt's side are in the same pool as Scotland, as well as host nation Japan - plus a European qualifier - likely to be either Romania or Russia - and the play-off winner.
Heaslip later told Sky Sports News that the draw could have looked a lot worse for Ireland.
"We're happy with the group that we've got. There are a lot of tough teams out there but I think the real struggle and learning that we had from the last World Cup anyway was that Ireland haven't got past the quarter final for example, it's tough to get out through your group and we've had our own troubles against Scotland. They are playing some really good rugby," he said.
The relatively favourable pool draw means Ireland have been spared the "Group of Death" type of scenario that England, France and Argentina must entertain, for example, in Pool C.
However, as Heaslip himself pointed out, Scotland did beat Ireland in the 2017 Six Nations and Japan provided a shock in the 2015 World Cup when they pulled off a shock win over South Africa.
Joe Schmidt: Drawing Japan is "incredibly exciting"
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