Rugby World Cup 2015 Team of the Tournament

Loose-head prop

Scott Sio made a huge difference to the Australian scrum. His inclusion alongside the coaching of Mario Ledesma allowed the Wallabies to create a platform for their excellent back line. He was injured for the semi-final against Argentina and was sorely missed with their scrum buckling under Argentinian pressure. At 24 he has the potential to become the world’s best loose-head.

Unlucky to miss out: Marcos Ayerza

Hooker

 Augustin Creevy led Argentina excellently. He was at the forefront of an impressive Argentinian campaign and his personal performances were reflected by the rest of the side. Creevy showed quality at set piece time and his work rate was relentless in the loose.

Unlucky to miss out: Dane Coles

Tight-head prop

Ramiro Herrera scrummaged excellently and carried powerfully. He was arguably the most impressive of the Argentinian front row which is a massive compliment in itself. Herrera brought physicality and an edge to the Argentinian game.

Unlucky to miss out: WP Nel, Sekope Kepu

Second rows

Brodie Retallick is undoubtedly the world’s best second row and once again proved that during the tournament. Retallick does everything a good second row can do but with the additions of subtle hands, great match awareness and ability to compete at the breakdown. Class throughout.

Mamuka Gorgodze was so influential for Georgia. I am cheating slightly here as Gorgodze featured in the backrow during the tournament but he has played much of his rugby at lock. His performances were the difference between Georgia winning and losing against Tonga which was the most important game for Georgia to win. ‘Gorgodzilla’ carried and tackled tenaciously winning the hearts and minds of neutral supporters.

Unlucky to miss out: Leone Nakarawa, Sam Whitelock, Iain Henderson

 

Blindside flanker

Michael Leitch did for Japan what Gorgodze did for Georgia. He led them excellently and was massively influential in their performances particularly with his carrying game. His bold decision to go for the win against South Africa instead of the draw earns selection by itself as it created one of the greatest World Cup moments ever.

Unlucky to miss out: Scott Fardy, Francois Louw

Openside flanker

Schalk Burger made 20 more carries (80) than any other player at the tournament. He also made 55 tackles (4th) and 17 offloads (3rd). These statistics alone demonstrate that Burger, even at 32, was a force to be reckoned with. He was back to his best and was phenomenal throughout the tournament. A true great.

Unlucky to miss out: Michael Hooper, Richie McCaw

Number eight

Only one player was in contention for this spot due to the quality of his performances. David Pocock was the best player at the tournament. He was aided by the excellent performances of Scott Fardy and Michael Hooper but even so he excelled more than anyone expected. He made 17 turnovers, a phenomenal amount, then add into the equation three tries and the fact he wasn’t playing in his natural position. Pocock’s nomination for World Player of the Year was well justified.

Scrum-half

I do not think there was a stand out 9 in the tournament. Fourie Du Preez had his moments, Greg Laidlaw was impressive and Aaron Smith was class. However I felt that Smith has performed better in the past and for that reason I have gone for Gareth Davies. He would have been Wales’ second choice if Rhys Webb had not been injured. Despite this he performed excellently scoring five tries in five matches. A breakthrough moment for Davies.

Unlucky to miss out: Fourie Du Preez, Greg Laidlaw, Aaron Smith

Fly-half

It has to be Dan Carter. During the group stages Carter was not quite at his best but he came into his own during the knockout stages. His drop goals against both South Africa and Australia demonstrated his class and showed he was the best 10 in the tournament. His defensive work rate in the final where he made 12 tackles was also especially impressive. The way that Bernard Foley and Nicolas Sanchez attacked the line was particularly admirable but Carter exuded class that placed him on another level.

Unlucky to miss out: Bernard Foley, Nicolas Sanchez, Dan Biggar

 

Centres

Ma’a Nonu continued his excellent Super Rugby form into the World Cup. A player with the physicality and yet the skilfulness of Nonu is what England need in the midfield. His all round game will be missed by the All Blacks. A memorable tournament for Nonu where he gained his 100^th cap was fittingly finished with a superb try in the final.

Conrad Smith almost never makes mistakes. Smith’s decision making is excellent and he has once again proved to be the valuable link between the midfield and the explosive back three. He made a great tackle on Michael Hooper in the final which set the tone for the game. Smith is a standard bearer for this All Black team and will be hard to replace. It is a great testament to both Nonu and Smith that Sonny Bill Williams remained on the bench for much of the tournament.

Unlucky to miss out: Sonny Bill Williams, Matt Giteau

 

Wingers

Julian Savea blew slightly hot and cold in the tournament. No other player on the planet could do this and end up with 8 tries. His performance against France was phenomenal and there is no doubt that he is the world’s best. Savea’s combination of pace, power and finishing ability makes him the most potent player in the world.

Juan Imhoff is another who carried great form into the tournament. His hat-trick against South Africa in the Rugby Championship showed his world-class ability. Imhoff backed this up in the tournament scoring five tries and looking dangerous throughout. Alongside Santiago Cordero and Joaquin Tuculet a formidable Argentinian back three was formed.

Unlucky to miss out: DTH Van der Merwe, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Santiago Cordero

 

Fullback

It was a close call between Ben Smith and Ayumu Goromaru. However Goromaru was so important for Japan’s excellent campaign I have given him the nod. He contributed 24 points in Japan’s win against South Africa and was excellent throughout. Goromaru goal kicked superbly and his defence was unwavering.

Unlucky to miss out: Ben Smith

 

RWC 2015 Team of the Tournament

 

1. Scott Sio (AUS)
2. Augustin Creevy (ARG)
3. Ramiro Herrera (ARG)
4. Brodie Retallick (NZ)
5. Mamuka Gorgodze (GEO)
6. Michael Leitch (JPN)
7. Schalk Burger (SA)
8. David Pocock (AUS)
9. Gareth Davies (WAL)
10. Dan Carter (NZ)
11. Julian Savea (NZ)
12. Ma’a Nonu (NZ)
13. Conrad Smith (NZ)
14. Juan Imhoff (ARG)
15. Ayumu Goromaru (JPN)

A Post Mortem of England’s Rugby World Cup Campaign

England have entered the record books. Unfortunately it is for all the wrong reasons. They are the first host to be knocked out in the group stages. It is also the first time England have not made the knock-out stages. It has been an unacceptable performance.

The point must be made that England were handed a ridiculous draw which should never have happened. Nevertheless, Wales and Australia have faced the same draw and have come out with flying colours. The group is not an excuse. At home, England would expect to beat every team in the group, and have done so in the recent past. Add in the fact that Wales have been decimated by injuries and that Australia have had only one year under Michael Cheika England should have made it out of the group.

Stuart Lancaster must be held accountable. He has had four years with the side in which improvement has been seen. Lancaster deserves credit for that. However, in those four years England did not manage to win a Six Nations and they have failed miserably in the World Cup which everything was built towards. Their win record against top class opposition is only 36% (games against Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and Wales). Lancaster’s England showed glimpses of a good side notably against New Zealand in 2012 but they have lacked consistency. This is in terms of performance and selection which brings me onto one of Lancaster’s major failings. His selection.

Lancaster selected 72 players throughout his tenure but still managed to select the wrong players for his World Cup Squad. He made a number of bad calls. Luther Burrell, who in a previously article I stated should start at 12 for England, was left out of the squad for Brad Barritt and Sam Burgess. I stand by what I said. My thoughts on Barritt and Burgess at the time of squad selection were that ‘England’s centre options would be too one dimensional if both were selected.’ This has been vindicated as England played those two alongside each other against Wales. They were crying out for some creativity whether it be Burrell or the ignored Henry Slade. A clear mistake was made. This has been compounded by Barritt’s abject performances in the World Cup. He is very committed but is so one dimensional he surely cannot play international rugby again.

Lancaster made other errors too. He gutted the creativity and impact from the bench. He left out Danny Cipriani for Henry Slade and then did not put him on the bench. Danny Care could have provided a spark off the bench but was ignored. As was Jack Nowell who can cover centre, wing and fullback. The powerful Dave Attwood was left out of the squad completely despite having an important role in the year leading up to the tournament off the bench. Another error. When you look at these mistakes selection wise it puts Lancaster’s job even more in doubt. He had an array of options but he did not utilise them properly. There is no doubt that it is difficult to select an England side as there are lots of players of similar standard. However Lancaster had four years to sort that out and by jettisoning relative stalwarts like Burrell and Attwood he was taking a risk. It has definitely not paid off.

The game plan of England was also unconvincing. It was neither a game based on kicking and managing territory like Ireland’s yet nor was it a flowing running game either. Lancaster killed that option with the selection of Owen Farrell over George Ford alongside Barritt and Burgess. Lancaster did not implement a clear game plan and altered selections throughout his reign so frequently that partnerships were still new when the World Cup arrived. This is undoubtedly a failing that needs to be rectified going forward.

The leadership of England is another area that seems to have failed. Chris Robshaw made an error going for the corner against Wales. There is no doubt of that. Unfortunately this is not the first time he has done so. However I do not blame Lancaster for this failing. England have few leaders and Robshaw was the best candidate. The lack of leaders can be illustrated by the dilemma over who should be the next England captain (the options are very limited) and the selection of Burgess which was just as much for his personality as it was his ability. This is one area England need to solve going forward. Although it seems the solutions are not easily forth coming.

The main area that I think England need to improve is their midfield. They need to find the balance of creativity and skill with ample power. England have selected three fly-halves against Uruguay but this is not a long term solution. If England can select a well-balanced midfield then their game with improve immeasurably. The options are there and available. Surely from the talent pool of George Ford, Owen Farrell, Henry Slade, Danny Cipriani, Kyle Eastmond, Luther Burrell, Manu Tuilagi and Jonathan Joseph a world-class midfield can be crafted. Unfortunately this will take time to work out. Lancaster has had his chance to create a team and has ultimately failed. I hope that a new coach, one with international experience or at the very least a clear game plan and ideology, will be able to solve England’s problems and get the team heading in the right direction again. 

What England need to do going forward:

1. Hire a new coach with a clear game plan who can help England can progress (Eddie Jones if available).
2. Decide who will be England’s Captain. Options are limited but crucial decisions about current squad members need to be made.
3. Select a midfield with creativity, skill and a kicking game. Slade in the centres alongside a more powerful option appeals to me greatly.
4. Make sure Brad Barritt and Sam Burgess (in the centres) do not play again.
5. Correct England’s set piece. It had been a strength for so long but both lineout and scrum struggled around World Cup time. This was costly.
6. Find an out and out openside flanker. This is the trickiest proposition as England do not have a stand out 7, under current selection rules, available. Jack Clifford and Will Fraser are my favourite options to be given a go in this role.

England’s midfield selection is a concern

The selection of Sam Burgess to start against Wales does not concern me. Although I still have some reservations, his selection is erring on the side of being exciting rather than a worry. However, the selection of Owen Farrell, Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt altogether worries me greatly. Stuart Lancaster has gutted the creativity from the midfield.

Jonathan Joseph’s injury left Lancaster with a big decision. Burgess or Henry Slade. Slade is the natural replacement for the 13 jersey but the fact he has not been picked suggest to me Lancaster got his 31-man squad wrong. If he is unprepared to start Slade at outside centre in a big match he should not have been selected. Luther Burrell missed out and I think that, if Burrell had been selected in the squad, he would be starting this game. Lancaster may regret this decision. He put himself in a tough position by selecting two inexperienced international centres. It is a tight call between Burgess and Slade. He has gone for Burgess which would have been fine if other more creative minded players remained in the side.

The centre selection in isolation is understandable. Scott Williams and Jamie Roberts are two very physical centres and England have matched them. What I am struggling with is that England have selected two centres that are limited in terms of their distribution and creative game and on top removed George Ford who is England’s most creative playmaker. Farrell is a good player who has performed well in the past but putting him alongside Barritt and Burgess makes no sense to me. England’s game plan is going to be direct with the centres and using Farrell to control territory. It is a game plan that could work. But reducing the cutting edge from the backs in such a big game is questionable. Personally, I would have stuck with Ford who has so much talent and can create chances Farrell can’t. Admittedly he is on the bench and could have a positive impact off the bench if required.

I also question the substitute selections. This particular England side will not lack control. They will lack creativity. At scrum-half replacement they have picked Richard Wigglesworth over Danny Care. Wigglesworth is a good player but England may need some spark off the bench which Care would provide. Equally the extra back they have gone for is Alex Goode. He is another talented player and is creative. But he cannot play at centre. This leaves England stuck with their centre options and the only change would be for Farrell to move into the centres. Slade would be a better option as would Jack Nowell. He can play wing, fullback and outside centre. Nowell would have given some much needed dynamism off the bench.

With all this being said I still fancy England to nick it. But I still question Lancaster’s decision to limit the game plan so much. I worry that England’s attacks will stagnate in the Welsh 22 on more than one occasion. I hope I am wrong.

In world rugby the All Blacks are always the side to look towards. They would never take the creativity of their centres and limit their game this much. England have opted to do so and their selection will all but guarantee a narrow game. Will England be on the right side of the result? I hope so. If they are Lancaster deserves credit for creating a game plan to win. The result is all important in a game of this magnitude.

Player ratings for England vs. Fiji

Joe Marler 5/10 – England’s scrummaging was below par and Marler was penalised on a couple of occasions. He did not carry regularly, although this could be levelled at a number of the England starting pack, but his work in the loose is normally much better.

Tom Youngs 6/10 – the lineout functioned reasonably well but still could improve. Youngs worked hard in the loose as ever but I felt he could have carried more in the first half.

Dan Cole 5/10 – the scrum did not go as well as it could have. Cole was fairly anonymous around the pitch. Scrum improved when Kieran Brookes came on. Cole needs to do more.

Geoff Parling 6/10 – has to take some credit for the improvement at the lineout. Solid around the park. I liked the impact of Joe Launchbury off the bench and for the sake of the lineout he should retain his starting place.

Courtney Lawes 6/10 – he was prepared to carry when few others were. Lawes did his best to impose himself but he needs to up his energy to get back to his best. He carries nicely in the wider channels when he can get going.

Tom Wood 7/10 – he was one of England’s better forwards. High work rate as ever and did very well to read Fiji’s risky lineout on their own five metre line. Wood is crucial to the England pack as a lineout option. Unfortunately, he gave away a silly penalty when removing an illegal player from the maul around the neck just when England were on the front foot.

Chris Robshaw 7/10 – led from the front as ever. Robshaw was tireless in defence and was crucial to England’s forwards getting on the front foot in the second half. His pick and goes made yards and kept Fiji going backwards.

Ben Morgan 5/10 – very disappointing from the Gloucester man. He did not give England any go forward. Only bright spark was when he ran forward before moving the ball on which created some space for the backs. Billy Vunipola was far superior.

Ben Youngs 5/10 – a poor performance from Youngs. He did not inject any pace into England’s attack. Richard Wigglesworth improved things slightly off the bench and let’s not forget that Danny Care did not even make the match day 23. An interesting call for Stuart Lancaster. I think Wigglesworth may well end up starting at some point.

George Ford 6/10 – he had an okay game but nothing more. It may be slightly ominous for Ford that Lancaster still trusts Owen Farrell over him to close out tight games.

Jonny May 6/10 – May threatened to do something exciting but did not quite manage to pull it off. There is a real feeling of excitement every time May touches the ball and I am sure that expectation will be rewarded at some point during the tournament. He did well to help stop Niko Matawalu’s almost try.

Brad Barritt 4/10 – an absolute nothing game from Barritt. He offered nothing in attack and the only memorable things that he did was to give away penalties. Barritt needs to do a lot more and his place is surely under pressure. Sam Burgess offered more in every facet of the game. He even looked less naïve than Barritt who lacked subtlety on a number of occasions to give away stupid penalties.

Jonathan Joseph 6/10 – a good performance from Joseph. He showed deft hands to set up Mike Brown’s first try and showed nice feet. Joseph has threatened in the last few games without delivering a special moment. Let’s hope he has been saving one for Wales or Australia.

Anthony Watson 6/10 – he is another real threat on the wing. A solid performance from Watson. He beat the giant Nemani Nadolo to a cross-field kick in attack impressively but Nadolo returned the favour to score a try.

Mike Brown 9/10 – a superb performance from Brown. He scored two tries and carried excellently making 172 metres. Brown is a reassuring figure from the back and just does everything a fullback should. Those who thought Alex Goode should start have been proven well and truly wrong.

The substitutes on the whole made a strong impact. Mako Vunipola (6/10) carried well and improved the scrum slightly on his side. Kieran Brookes (7/10) shored up the scrum really well and is a good carrier. Brookes has been very impressive off the bench and Cole is under pressure from Brookes and David Wilson. Joe Launchbury (7/10) made an impact. He carried well and was energetic in everything he did. Billy Vunipola (7/10) carried well and showed Morgan what was required. He is in with a very good chance of starting next week. Richard Wigglesworth (6/10) he brings control to the game and is a reassuring presence. The Saracens scrum-half was an improvement on Youngs. Owen Farrell (6/10) had a decent game. He will be utilised to close out tight games. Sam Burgess (6/10) carried well and was an improvement on Barritt. I still do not think he is a starter so England really need Barritt to improve.

Rugby World Cup preview – Pool D

Pool D

France and Ireland are expected to be the dominant teams in Pool D. However it might not be as straightforward as everyone expects. One slip up, most likely against Italy, could throw the group wide open. Although an upset like this would be unlikely, Italy have beaten both France and Ireland in recent Six Nations. One big performance from the Azzurri could earn them the place in the quarter-final. Neither Romania nor Canada have enough to upset one of the three larger teams in the group. Nevertheless, both will still be targeting the Italy game in particular for a shock result.

Canada

The Canadians had a disappointing Pacific Nations Cup campaign losing all their games. They lost to Japan, Tonga and USA. Their form did pick up towards the end of the tournament as they lost to Samoa by only one point in a tightly fought affair. Canada proved in this performance that they can compete with good sides. Their pre-RWC warm up fortunes improved with victories over Glasgow Warriors and Georgia. They have the talent to compete with teams and will be difficult to break down in the tight. However their ability to score points against good sides is questionable.

Canada have a muscular pack led by their second-row enforcer Jamie Cudmore. The Clermont Auvergne veteran’s experience will be vital in leading the Canadian pack. His abrasive style of play is hard to miss. Jebb Sinclair will provide some quality in the back-row. He is another experienced professional who has played over 60 times for London Irish. He is another very physical player who will look to help Canada dominate collisions.

DTH van der Merwe is the stand out back in the Canada side. The former Glasgow Warrior winger is a class finisher and will need to have a strong tournament if Canada are going to capitalise on the opportunities they create.

Canada have lost to Romania the last two times the sides met but the Canadians could and arguably should have won both games. This is the game they will really want to win.

Player to watch: Jamie Cudmore is a blockbuster player. His physical approach is unmistakable and it can go over the edge. Cudmore’s disciplinary record is impressive. That is if you are impressed by yellow and red cards. It is all part of the big Canadians charm. Expect a confrontation or two when watching Cudmore.

France

France have being given a very good opportunity to reach the quarter-final. Assuming they can beat Canada, Italy and Romania the big clash in Pool D against Ireland will no longer be a must win game. That being said it would be preferable to avoid New Zealand in the quarter-finals which would be the most likely outcome from Pool C. France have the opportunity to have a very strong campaign. Good performances against Italy and Ireland could see them top the group. However beating a well drilled Ireland side may be a step too far.

The French pack has proven in the warm-up fixtures that they are a force to be reckoned with. They have numerous top quality front-rows who dominated the scrum against England. Eddy Ben Arous is a particular favourite of mine. He plays like a flanker around the field but retains the ballast of a prop. Ben Arous is powerful when it comes to scrum time as well. He could be a real star of the tournament. Louis Picamoles showed some worryingly good form in the warm-up matches. He is very powerful and on his day is one of the best number eights in the world. Thierry Dusautoir is fit again and will provide some crucial leadership in the big games. The French pack as a unit is powerful and has great strength in depth. They can match any pack in world rugby.

The options for France at scrum-half are excellent with Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Morgan Parra both being very good players who have excellent game management. I am still unconvinced about Fredric Michalak at 10 but he does have his moments. Opposition sides will surely impose as much pressure on the mercurial talent as possible. Wesley Fofana is a great player in centres and will be supported by the size of either Mathieu Bastereaud or Alexandre Dumoulin. Yoann Huget and Noa Nakaitaci will provide some excitement on the wings and both have the ability to score individual tries.

This French team is a good side and will be a real handful if they get to the knockout stages. Although Ireland may have too much for them it is sure to be a very close game.

Player to watch: Yoann Huget. He can divide opinion. Huget does some things brilliantly but he can also lose his head and even dive. Let’s hope he makes the headlines for brilliant things. He is quick and has great feet for a big man as demonstrated when he went around Mike Brown with ease. Huget could score a lot of tries in this tournament.

Ireland

Ireland have made great progress under Joe Schmidt and go into the tournament as genuine contenders. They are favourites to top Pool D which would give them a favourable quarter-final tie. However, Ireland will face at least two challenging games before they reach the knockouts. This Ireland side should have too much to be defeated by Italy, but the same cannot be said of the French team who could knock them into second place. This would mean facing the All Blacks in the quarter-final, which every team wants to avoid. For this reason, topping the group is vitally important for reaching the latter stages of the tournament.

Before the warm-up games Ireland looked a very settled team, having won the Six Nations and developed an effective game plan under Schmidt. However, they have lost their last two games, which has raised some doubts. The performance against Wales was not too bad but they offered few threats against England. Their kicking game was countered well by the England back three which meant they were lacking in ideas.

Ireland possess a quality backline. This starts from the world class partnership of Connor Murray and Jonathan Sexton. They provide so much control for the rest of the side and their kicking orientated game suits them greatly. One problem is that they have been too good. Ireland have become over reliant on them and if one were to get injured they could be in trouble. Both have carried knocks in recent times which will be a worry. If they are fit Ireland have a great chance. Robbie Henshaw is an excellent player who has a lot of potential and outside him there are many strong back three options.

The Ireland pack is just as good. Their front row is strong with plenty of depth of their bench. Their scrummaging against England indicates how much of a strength it could be for them in the world cup. Paul O’Connell is still going in the second row and watch out for Ian Henderson who was so dynamic during the warm-up games. The back-row is a real strength of Ireland. Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip are a quality unit. They carry extremely well and work as hard on the floor as anyone. If Ireland are to succeed at the World Cup then their back-row will need to perform.

Ireland have a great chance of reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup and from there who knows what could happen. That is of course if they can win the group which I would expect them to do.

Player to watch: Robbie Henshaw is quick, powerful and picks great lines. Although he is nowhere near the class of Brain O’Driscoll yet he has the talent to start filling the hole left by BO’D. Henshaw could have a very good tournament if he gets on the front foot.

Italy

The Italians have a tough job getting out of the group, but it could be tougher. They have to beat one of Ireland or France as well as the minnows to get through. The Italians have done it before. They beat Ireland in 2013 and beat France in both 2011 and 2013. It can be done. Italy are in a very fortunate position in some ways. They should comfortably beat Canada and Romania. Italy also have two massive opportunities for upsets that could put them into the knockout stages. One great performance and who knows.

The Italians have a strong pack martialled by the likes of Martin Castrogiovanni and Sergio Parisse. Their front row is powerful and parity at the scrum will be vital for them if they want to compete. It is very unfortunate that Parisse is carrying an injury which means he will be unavailable against France. This is a great shame as it limits their chances of an upset considerably. They are less likely to beat Ireland, but without Parisse the French match looks just as difficult. Alessandro Zanni and Samuela Vunisa will need to have big performances to try replicate what Parisse does on a regular basis.

Their backline has some very talented individuals but the problems remain at fly-half. Italy have struggled to find a consistent goal kicker which has and will hold them back in big matches. Tommaso Allan has been given the responsibility and he will need to kick well if Italy are to have any chance of an upset.

An upset seems unlikely but a poor French performance is never far away. If it happens to be against Italy a big upset could happen.

Player to watch: Michele Campagnaro is a very talented centre. He is quick and can make breaks on the outside. Campagnaro has performed well in the Six Nations in the past and has earned himself a move to Exeter Chiefs for next season. He offers Italy a cutting edge and a genuine threat in the backs.

Romania

Romania are ranked 17^th in the world. They lost out to Georgia as top European qualifier from outside the Six Nations but still performed well. Romania will back themselves to beat Canada and will target the Italy game for an upset. Italy are a class above Romania but that will not stop them giving their everything to beat the Azzurri.

They have a large pack with a number of their forwards playing their club rugby in France. It will be a clash of the titans when they meet the equally powerful Canada pack. They will look to dominate up front to create space for their backs where one man stands out.

Player to watch: Catalin Fercu has played 80 times for his country and is currently contracted by Saracens. He is a Romanian rugby legend and he provides real quality from fullback. Fercu did not play in the last World Cup due to his fear of flying but he has made the trip to England and will be desperate to make his mark.

Prediction

Ireland are the strongest side in the pool and should see off the challenge of France for first. But only just. The French will be wary of the threat from Italy and I think their pack will ensure them the other place in qualification. Italy would love an upset but without Parisse it is going to be very difficult. They are too good to be beaten by Romania and Canada but will not have enough for France or Ireland. I expect Romania to defeat Canada and secure fourth place. Canada may well have to go home without a victory.

Ireland

France

Italy

Romania

Canada

Rugby World Cup Preview – Pool C

Pool C

Pool C is probably the easiest group to predict. New Zealand are almost guaranteed to come in first place. Argentina are clear favourites to join the All Blacks in the knockout stages. Tonga have the ability to compete with Argentina but it is still very unlikely they will beat the Pumas. Georgia are strong upfront but are lacking in the backs. It could be a tough few weeks for Namibia who always excel in effort but tend to ship points in the second half.

Argentina

The Pumas will be relatively happy with their pool as although they have to face New Zealand they have a fairly a simple run of games to secure second. Argentina reaching the quarter-finals will be regarded as a success. Furthermore no team will want to play an Argentinean side with nothing to lose in knockout rugby. They showed in the Rugby Championship when they convincingly defeated South Africa in Durban that on their day they can match anyone in World Rugby. Their inclusion in the Rugby Championship has strengthened their squad and given them vital match experience against the world’s best teams. I therefore expect them to beat all sides in the group bar New Zealand.

The Argentinean pack is revered around the world. Their scrummaging in particular is much admired and rightly so. Marcus Ayerza is one of the best loose-head props in the game and will help to give Argentina a strong platform. The captain Augustin Creevy will lead from the front. He marshals the lineout excellently and helps to bring an edge to the pack. The Pumas possess a very talented back-row including Pablo Matera, Leonardo Senatore, Juan Manuel Leguizamon and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. The Argentina back-row will compete hard at the breakdown and be a challenge for any side in this area.

Argentina’s back line is looking stronger than in the past. Tomas Cubelli is a good scrum-half and will provide clean ball for Nicolas Sanchez or the mercurial Juan Martin Hernandez at fly-half. Marcelo Bosch is a class operator in the centres who has the ability to kick penalties from within his own half which makes discipline around the halfway line vitally important for opposition sides. Juan Imhoff, Horacio Agulla and Joaquin Tuculet form a deadly back-three that will thrive of counter-attacking ball.

Player to watch:  Racing Metro winger Juan Imhoff will provide a real threat on the wing. He is quick, powerful and a potent finisher. Imhoff has consistently scored tries for both Racing and Argentina. He has scored 11 tries in 27 caps including a hat-trick against South Africa in this year’s Rugby Championship. He is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Georgia

Georgia are the best European team outside the Six Nations. They qualified very comfortably to the World Cup but in the past the jump up in quality once at the tournament has been too much. However, Georgia will be targeting a third place finish this time around. A result against New Zealand or Argentina will be a step to far. But a victory over both Namibia and Tonga, a much more difficult task, will ensure a successful tournament.

Georgia have not had an ideal preparation losing all their warm-up games against Newcastle Falcons, Canada and Japan. Nevertheless I expect them to raise their game when the opening game of the World Cup against Tonga. A win would get them off to a flyer but it would be a bit of an upset.

If Georgia are to be successful it will rely heavily on winning the forwards battle. Long-time Clermont servant Davit Zirakashvili will provide some quality and grunt from prop. The star of the Georgian pack is Captain Mamuka Gorgodze. The Toulon number 8 is an extremely physical player in both attack and defence. He often requires multiple players to bring him down which can help create space for his team mates.

In the backs keep an eye out for youngest ever World Cup player Vasil Lobzhanidze who starts against Tonga at scrum-half. He is only 18 years old and has already won six caps. Lobzhanidze certainly has a bright future in front of him. Unfortunately the Georgian backline does not quite live up to the forwards. It is something they need to develop if they want to move up to the next level.

Player to watch: Mamuka Gorgodze was the only real option. The rampaging back-row forward is box office to watch. His performances are going to be absolutely vital if Georgia are going to attain the third place position they desire.

Namibia

Namibia have never won a World Cup match and sadly it seems very unlikely that this will change. Although Tonga and Georgia are by no means in the top echelon of world rugby they are way ahead of Namibia in terms of quality. It is going to be a very tough campaign.

However the team’s ethic of hard work is epitomised by their inspirational captain Jacques Burger. He leads from the front for both the national team and Saracens. This is often shown by tackling the opposition with his face which illustrates the commitment Burger has when on the field. Renaldo Bothma will add some more quality to the back-row. He plies his trade for the Sharks in Super Rugby and performed well in last year’s Currie Cup.

Exeter Chiefs’ Chrysander Botha is the stand out back. The fullback started promisingly for Exeter last season but was hampered by long term injuries throughout the season. Botha is extremely quick and has good feet. He has scored 31 tries in 35 appearances for Namibia and will be their main try threat out wide.

Player to watch: Jacques Burger is the best player in the Namibia team. His work rate at the breakdown and the number of tackles he makes is what marks him as a great player. When playing for Namibia his work rate often increases further, if that is possible, and expect him to rack up some extremely impressive tackles statistics in the tournament.

New Zealand

The All Blacks go into the World Cup as outright favourites and rightly so. They have only lost three games since the last World Cup which has often been followed up with a crushing victory to re-establish their dominance.  New Zealand have a great balance of experience and players who are in the prime of their careers who will be ready to perform on the world stage. The reigning world champions have been handed a fairly simple run to the quarter finals avoiding any major threats. They have certainly lucked out in comparison to those teams in Pool A. They go into the tournament aiming to be the first team to retain the Web Ellis Cup and frankly who would bet against them.

The All Blacks team is too good to go through individually and pick out star players as it would be a profile of all players from 1 to 15 and arguably 1 to 23. In the pack there a couple of players I will focus on starting with the electric Dane Coles. The fastest front row in rugby. Coles is a quality player across all facets of the game and can do everything a normal international hooker is required to do. Then add into the equation his rapid pace that has taken him around many a player including world class fullback Willie le Roux to score under the posts. Coles could be one of the stars of the tournament and is undoubtedly the long term successor to Kevin Mealamu. Brodie Retallick is the best second-row in the world. Once again what sets him apart is his ability to do everything a lock needs to do while bringing something extra to his game. The IRB 2014 world player of the year has such good hands and reads the game so well it allows him to do things that no other second-row can do. Kieran Reid is another player who is the best player in the world in his position. Reid is less powerful than some other number eights around the world but his skill levels added to his strength make him a joy to watch. He creates space for others and his offloading game is incredible. New Zealand’s set piece as a whole is strong and their lineout in particular works especially well. Richie McCaw will ensure they are a nuisance at the break down and to beat New Zealand the break down must be dominated. This much more easily said than done when you consider who is trying to slow down the ball.

In the backs the team just gets even better. Aaron Smith is the best 9 in the world and provides such high quality ball to the backline. Dan Carter is starting to look back to his best but I think he is one of the weaker backs in the All Blacks starting line-up. This is largely because of the quality of players around him rather than a reflection on Carter himself. The centres will be fascinating to watch. Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith have forged one of the best centre partnerships of all time. It would take a special player to break this up but Sonny Bill Williams may well be that player. It is very difficult to leave any of those players out of their starting team but most likely one of them will be on the bench. Julian Savea, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo ensure explosive power and quality on the wings. Savea is very likely to be right at the top in terms of tries scored. Ben Smith, the man who has kept Israel Dagg out of the 31-man squad, is another player who just does everything excellently. Expect him to glide through opposition defences throughout the tournament.

The New Zealand team is too good for them not to come first in the group. It is going to take an exceptional performance to stop them becoming champions.

Player to watch: Nehe Milner-Skudder is likely to start on the right wing while Naholo recovers from injury. This opportunity may well be enough to secure him the right wing berth. Milner-Skudder has unbelievably quick feet and can beat a man in next to no space. He is a class finisher and I expect him to have a big tournament.

Tonga

Tonga are the third best side in the group. However they are in a precarious position. Georgia are closer in ability to them than they are to Argentina. Therefore they are more likely to come 4^th than 2^nd. This makes their opening game against Georgia a huge one. If they win that they can concentrate on giving the New Zealand and Argentina a tough time to try and create an upset. Tonga are ranked are 11^th in the world and are a decent side. They managed to beat France in the 2011 group stages who went on the finish as runners up so an upset is by no means impossible. Tonga will be targeting Argentina for a similar upset.

Tonga have an extremely physical pack which is epitomised by the likes of Gloucester flanker Sione Kalamafoni and the massive number eight Opeti Fonua who has recently joined Leicester Tigers. Steve Mafi will be crucial for Tonga in the second-row. Mafi is great around the park but will have a massive role in organising the lineout in particular.

Fetu’u Vainikolo has the opportunity to become Tonga’s top try scorer during the tournament. The former Exeter Chiefs winger is a talented finisher who in typical Tongan style combines pace and power.

It is going to be a difficult campaign for Tonga but a win over Georgia and two shots at upsets mean a strong campaign could be on the cards.

Player to watch: Telusa Veainu is a 24 year old New Zealand born winger. He has featured for New Zealand under 20s in the past and has played for Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby. Veainu opted to play for Tonga this year and scored two tries in his first four caps during the Pacific Nations Cup where he was a standout player. The New Zealand fan has good pace and a strong rugby pedigree. Expect him to be one of Tonga’s star players at the tournament.

Prediction

New Zealand will have too much for all the sides in the group although Argentina should challenge them. The Pumas are a good enough side to see off the challenges presented by Tonga and Georgia and should reach the quarter finals without too much trouble. I expect Tonga to edge out Georgia and secure third place. Unfortunately for Namibia a clean sweep of defeats is likely to occur.

New Zealand

Argentina

Tonga

Georgia

Namibia

Rugby World Cup preview – Pool B

Pool B

Pool B will be another fascinating group to watch unfold. There is no doubt that South Africa have lucked out with the draw and are very likely to cruise to first place. However the battle for second place is where the attention will be focused. Scotland are favourites to beat off the competition and make the quarter finals although they will face stiff opposition from Samoa. USA and Japan in particular  have the ability to compete and one upset from either of these sides would completely change the balance of power in the race for the knock-out stages.

Japan

The Japanese side are a decent outfit for an emerging nation. However they had a mixed Pacific Nations Cup in the build up to the World Cup. They beat Canada fairly convincingly but just lost to the USA in a disappointing performance. Japan then performed admirably against Fiji losing 27-22 in a close affair. The Fiji game proved that if Japan are on form they can pose a threat to the likes of Samoa and Scotland.

Japan possess threats out wide including Akihito Yamada, who was in the Western Force squad for the last Super Rugby season, and Yoshikazu Fujita who, despite only being 21, has scored 25 tries in his 27 international matches so far. Fumiaki Tanaka will provide some quality from scrum-half and will draw on his experience at both international and Super Rugby level to bring some control to the Japanese side.

The leadership of Head Coach Eddie Jones could be invaluable. He has tournament experience leading Australia to runners up in the 2003 World Cup and with South Africa in 2007, as assistant coach, helping the Springboks lift the trophy. Japan will therefore have no lack of managerial nous going into the tournament. That being said leading one of the major nations into the tournament is a very different task to leading the fourth best side in the Pool.

Japan’s shot of qualification is remote but by no means impossible. They have beaten the USA five out of the last six times the teams met. Japan also managed to defeat Samoa convincingly last year. If the Japanese side can win two out of their four matches they could be in with a chance of qualification depending on how other fixtures play out. They are scheduled to host the next World Cup in four years’ time and it is important that a strong showing is put on by Japan to help kick start Japanese rugby towards the next level.

Player to watch: Michael Leitch is a Fijian born back-row. He grew up in New Zealand before moving to Japan at the age of 15.  Leitch has risen through the ranks and become Japan captain. Recently he has played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and has gained a new contract for after the World Cup.  Leitch is dynamic around the pitch and his leadership will be crucial in close matches. He is one to watch out for.

Samoa

The Pacific Islanders go into Pool B as Scotland’s biggest threat for qualification. And rightly so. Samoa go into the tournament ranked as the 12^th best team in the world which puts them only two places behind Scotland. It also ranks them two places ahead of Italy. They are clearly a decent side. Similarly to Fiji, what has often held them back is the lack of team preparation time but Samoa have had a long World Cup preseason including coming runners-up in the Pacific Nations Cup. It can therefore be expected that Samoa should be a cohesive side rather than relying on individual brilliance.

That being said they have plenty of individual brilliance to aid them. In the backs they possess all three Pisi brothers (Tusiata, George and Ken) who will provide some spark in the wider channels. Alesana Tuilagi, although 34, will give no opposite number an easy game and a trademark big tackle or destructive run is sure to occur at some point. Samoa have the exciting Tim Nanai-Williams at full-back who has switched his allegiance from New Zealand to Samoa for the World Cup. This should provide them with a counter attacking edge from any ball that is kicked away badly from opposition. Kahn Fotuali’i will provide quality from scrum-half and will need to kick well to give the Samoans some territory and unleash their powerful back-line.

Samoa, unsurprisingly, have a powerful pack but their real strength lies in the back-row. Maurie Fa’asavalu, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Jack Lam and captain Ofisa Treviranus will provide quality and compete hard at the breakdown. The depth they possess in the back-row should mean that as a unit they can remain fresh and strong throughout the tournament.

Samoa will back themselves to beat Japan and USA. If they can do this it will be effectively a knockout match against Scotland for a quarter-final place in their last match of the Pool. Scotland would be the favourites but not by much.

Player to watch: Jack Lam is seriously good openside flanker. He plays for Bristol in the championship but played for Hurricanes in Super Rugby before making the swap for the West Country. He is the son of Samoan legend Pat Lam, who is currently Connacht coach, and his rugby pedigree is evident when you watch him. Expect him to be a nuisance for the opposition and to have a strong tournament.

Scotland

Scotland have been gifted a great opportunity to reach the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup. They still have to get past Samoa, but assuming they can do so, Scotland will have had a successful tournament. But with this expectation comes pressure. Scotland are expected to qualify. Therefore they will either have a successful tournament by making it out of the group or have a miserable failure of a tournament if they fail to do so. There is no middle ground for Scotland.

In the past I would have had less confidence in Scotland but under Vern Cotter forward strides have been made. They showed in Paris that they could compete with a French pack who had demolished the England forwards. Scotland are solid in the front-row and the Gray brothers provide dynamism for the engine room. Most interest will fall on the back-row. Scotland chose to exclude John Barclay and most surprisingly Blair Cowan, who has been excellent for both club and country over the last 18 months, to bring in untested John Hardie. Hardie switched his allegiance from New Zealand to Scotland in time to appear in two of the warm-up games. He played well and excelled defensively. Nevertheless it seems a strange decision not to have Cowan in the squad at all and pick someone effectively on their Super Rugby form for the Highlanders. Another interesting aspect is that Josh Strauss has made the squad despite never playing for Scotland before. He is South African born and qualifies for Scotland through residency although this only goes through a couple of days before their first match. This is less of a surprise as Strauss has captained and performed excellently for Glasgow Warriors. It will be interesting to watch their back-row perform and with David Denton thrown into the equation it could become a real strength for them.

Scotland, finally, possess a back line with some potency. They have a talented fly-half in Finn Russell who can help find space for the outside backs. Mark Bennett is a class runner with ball in hand and can cause problems for any side. They also have numerous options in the back three which include Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Sean Maitland and the best of the lot Stuart Hogg. Scotland should therefore have no problem scoring tries if they can sustain a solid platform at front. This a big shift from previous Scottish sides who wanted as much of a dog fight as possible. Under Cotter space created for the wings could be crucial for their game plan.

Player to watch: Mark Bennett is a quality outside centre. He has shown scintillating form for both Glasgow and Scotland. He is quick, has good feet and can make a break from nothing. Expect him to have an impact for Scotland. Bennett has the ability to be Lions tourist in 2017.

South Africa

They have lucked out on the Pools more than anyone else. It is unconceivable that they will not make it out of the group stages. It is almost equally unlikely that they will not finish first in the group. South Africa are in the very fortunate position that they can use the group stages to fine-tune things and prepare for the knockouts. That being said this is by no means a great South Africa side. They are ageing. Nine of the squad from the 2007 World Cup remain which is remarkable. Comparing this to other nations illustrates the age, and experience, of the Springbok squad. New Zealand have five who survive, Australia have four and England have zero. For me, this South Africa side has crossed the line from being experienced to just being a bit old. This was reflected in the Rugby Championship when they came last losing all three games. The games with Australia and New Zealand were close but they were beaten comfortably by Argentina at home. It looked a tired performance which is a worry going into the World Cup.

However there are some bright spots for South Africa. If they can get their squad fully fit they will be a match for anyone. It is particularly crucial that Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw gain match fitness as they make up a world class back row if all members are fit. They have a strong pack and the Du Plessis’ brothers can provide an edge up front. Eben Etzebeth is a powerful operator and alongside Victor Matfield creates a top class second-row partnership.

I am unconvinced about the South African half-backs as Fourie Du Preez has been carrying injuries. Handre Pollard started promisingly at fly-half but his form has fallen away slightly. Pat Lambie is a talented deputy but his ability to control a high pressure match is questionable. Slightly further out things look more reassured. Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel formed a brilliant centre partnership when together. Both are young men but have massive futures especially if it is alongside each other. De Allende brings power and Kriel can score tries for fun. Jean de Villiers will play if he is fit, although he might not be one of the top two centres, but his leadership will be vital. If he is fit expect Kriel to shift on to the wing which is he perfectly capable of. Bryan Habana still provides some class on the wing and will cross the line at some point. Willie le Roux is one of the best fullbacks in world rugby and has the potential to be one of the starts of the tournament.

South Africa are still a class outfit. It would be a surprise if they did not make it into the semi-finals.

Player to watch: Jesse Kriel has the ability to become a regular Springbok for a long time to come. He uses his electrifying pace and feet to break through the middle of the pitch if in the centres. Kriel has already scored two tries in his first four games and expect more to come.

USA

USA go into the tournaments as underdogs in the group. That being said they have enough quality in their side to beat Japan and could even challenge Samoa if they perform well. USA defeated both Japan and Canada in the 2015 Pacific Nations cup and only lost narrowly to Samoa which will give them encouragement going into the World Cup. America has the potential to really grow as a rugby nation and sevens being incorporated is only going to see massive improvements. It would therefore be good for their development to compete well. However in all likelihood they will come in last.

USA do possess a very talented back-three. Chris Wyles will captain from fullback and has proven season after season for Saracens how good he is. They will have former Leicester Tiger Blaine Scully on one wing and Biarritz’s Takudzwa Ngwenya on the other. It is well worth re-watching him go around Bryan Habana at the 2007 world cup to see his talent although his pace has dropped off a bit since then.

Samu Manoa is the star man in the pack. The Toulon bound back-rower is a top class forward. He carries well but his tackling is really what to watch out for. USA do not lack power in the engine room with Cardiff’s Cam Dolan, Glasgow lock Greg Peterson and Saracens second-row Hayden Smith, who briefly played in the NFL for New York Jets, all selected in the squad.

Player to watch: Samu Manoa is such a talented rugby player. He will need to have some massive performances if USA are going to compete or even win a game in Pool B. A trademark big tackle is sure to come at some point.

Prediction

South Africa will come first. I expect Scotland to see of the challenge of Samoa, although this is not definite, to come in second place. If everything goes to plan then Samoa versus Scotland could effectively be an eliminator for second place in the group which would make it a massive occasion. Samoa should have too much for Japan and USA but an upset cannot be written off. It will be a close call in the Japan versus USA game but I think Japan will have the edge but only just. I expect there to be lots of tight results in the games without South Africa.

South Africa

Scotland

Samoa

Japan

USA

Rugby World Cup preview – Pool A

Pool A

A group that justifies the overused tag ‘the group of death’. Not only does the pool contain three contenders for the trophy in the form of Australia, England and Wales but it also features Fiji who would be the third most dangerous team in every other group. The quality of the teams makes it hard to predict but I have done my best to do so. Spare a thought for Uruguay who may have the toughest Rugby World Cup campaign ever.

Australia

They have gone from being a poor Wallabies side to having an outside chance of winning the World Cup. Australia are currently ranked 2^nd in the world due to a triumphant Rugby Championship campaign. They defeated Argentina, South Africa and most impressively New Zealand. The All Blacks have only lost three games since the World Cup in 2011. This alone illustrates the calibre of the Wallabies side who line-up in Pool A. Admittedly, they were thumped by the very same All Blacks side the following week 41-13 where a late Israel Folau intercept try gave Australia more points than they deserved.

Nevertheless the Wallabies are a side to be feared. They have an extremely talented backline featuring world-class players such as Folau, Tevita Kuridrani and Adam Ashley-Cooper. In addition, the play-making options in the squad include Bernard Foley, Matt Toomua, Matt Giteau, Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale. It is likely only two of these players will start which illustrates the creativity available to Head Coach Michael Cheika. The introduction of Argentina legend Mario Ledesma as forwards coach has shored up the scrum which has often been the Achilles heel of Australian Rugby.

In the forwards, their most unique asset is possessing two of the best openside flankers in the world. The combination of Michael Hooper and David Pocock in tandem could be lethal in terms of slowing down and turning over ball. Both Hooper and Pocock have proven themselves to be world-class and will provide Australia with a point of difference against any side in the world. There will be a particularly interesting dynamic against England who do not possess a traditional out and out seven and therefore the back-row battle may well be one of size versus speed. Equally, Wales have the luxury of fielding two quality sevens themselves but they have been reluctant to start both Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric in the past. It will be fascinating to see if Wales match Australia or stick with their tried and tested formula.

Player to watch: there are numerous stars in this Australia outfit. Folau is world-class as are the two opensides. However I think Tevita Kuridrani could take the tournament by storm. He is very strong and powerful but crucially plays with intelligence. Kuridrani picks such good lines that often see him cruise into space. He has become a go to player for Australia.

 

England

Stuart Lancaster’s side go into the pool matches as favourites to win the group. Although this is only down to home advantage. England looked in a good position to challenge for the World Cup after the Six Nations. However a shaky performance, by England’s pack especially, against France in Paris raised lots of questions for a side whose World Cup preparation had been going so well. Some faith has been restored after a strong performance against Ireland in the last warm-up game but issues still remain. The lineout has gone from being a strength to a weakness largely due to the exclusion of Dylan Hartley for disciplinary reasons. The scrum has also been under pressure in recent games. Nevertheless England still possess a strong pack and I expect both elements of the set-piece to perform better in the World Cup than the warm-up games.

Not so long ago England’s pack was being touted as the best in the world. The problems seemed to be creativity and tries out wide. How times have change. The selection of George Ford at fly-half and Jonathan Joseph at outside centre coupled with the form of Anthony Watson and Jonny May in particular has created a backline capable of scoring tries. If England’s pack can regain control at set-piece time it will provide England’s backline with the space and opportunities to cause some damage.

One advantage England have over Wales in particular is that they have been relatively unscathed by injuries. Although Manu Tuilagi and Hartley are unavailable England have trained and planned knowing this all along. However, the last minute injuries to Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny will have disrupted and altered Wales’ game plan. England have been fortunate to avoid this scenario.

Assuming that England do resolve the problems at the set-piece I expect England to perform well although winning every game in the nightmarish Pool A may be a step too far.

Player to watch: it is remarkable that Jonny May, who I was not convinced was one of England’s best three wingers, has forced his way into contention for player to watch due to form he has shown. However George Ford is going to be so important for England if they are to succeed at the tournament. He has such ability to put other backs into space while posing a threat to defences himself. Goal kicking will be so important in close matches which makes Ford’s performances even more crucial.

Fiji

An upset waiting to happen. This Pacific Island Nation provides so much talent to World Rugby so consistently. It is a shame that much of it seems to end up representing other nations. Yet despite this Fiji will put out a side that will strike fear in to all the other nations in Pool A. One crucial factor that favours Fiji is preparation time. So many of Fiji’s players are based in Europe and therefore preparation time for internationals is often much less than other top quality sides. Subsequently they are renowned for their scintillating back play and less so for their forwards. This particularly manifests itself at the set-piece. For once the Fijians will have had time to prepare properly with an extended training camp under the guidance of Kiwi John McKee. This should bring them closer to parity at scrum and lineout. If they can compete in the forwards it should give them the opportunity to unleash their powerful backline.

New Bath signing Nikola Matawalu will provide dynamism and a great deal of maverick talent from scrum-half. They will look to use the power of Vereniki Goneva and Nemani Nadolo in the wide channels. Both players will be a handful in one on one situations and teams will look to double up on them to try and counter their power.

Fiji go into tournament where in three out of the four games they are massive underdogs with nothing to lose. They therefore have three massive opportunities to cause World Cup upsets and there is a small chance Fiji might just pull one off.

Player to watch: Leone Nakarawa is a class act in the second-row with an unbelievable offloading game. The Glasgow Warriors forward was the joint top try scorer in Fiji’s recent triumphant Pacific Nations Cup victory with four tries. He was also man of the match in the 2015 Pro 12 final and racked up the most offloads in the 2014-15 Champions cup with 25. Nakarawa is one of my favourite players to watch and expect some outrageous play at some point in the tournament.

Uruguay

The undoubted whipping boys of Pool A. It is a shame that the Uruguayans do not face anyone in this group who they could provide a threat to. In reality the real achievement for Uruguay for this World Cup was getting here in the first place. It is also a real shame that their best player, Rodrigo Capo Ortega, has been strong armed by his club side Castres into retirement just before the World Cup. This is a shame as his presence would have been welcomed amongst the Uruguayan ranks. That being said his absence is unlikely to have any bearing on the results and I expect all sides in Pool A to rack up a healthy total against the South American underdogs. It must be mentioned that they managed to beat Argentina last month although that was an Argentina side without any of their Rugby Championship squad.

Player to watch: Agustin Ormaechea is the Uruguayan scrum-half. He plies his trade in the French Division 2 for Stade Montois and is the son of Uruguay’s best ever player Diego Ormaechea who led Uruguay to the first ever World cup in 1999 at the age of 40. Ormaechea is crucial if Uruguay want to establish any foothold in the game.

Wales

Wales’ World Cup preparation has left them in a weaker position than when they started. This is largely down to the last minute injuries to Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny. They are also carrying some players with niggles into the tournament. Liam Williams is recovering from a foot injury but has not played since June. He is expected to be fit for the first game against Uruguay but has not played recently. The same applies for Samson Lee. Alun Wyn Jones is carrying a knee injury and the fact that Warren Gatland has selected five locks indicates that Jones is a doubt. When you add the fact that Jonathan Davies is missing the tournament the Welsh side is looking rather depleted.

That being said Wales do have players capable of filling the sizeable hole left by the injuries. Scott Williams is an excellent player and will form a strong partnership with Jamie Roberts. A fit Liam Williams is a massive asset and offers more of a counter-attacking option than Leigh Halfpenny. However the reliable boot of Halfpenny will be harder to replace. Dan Biggar is a good kicker but does not have the range and consistency that Halfpenny provides. Webb at scrum-half is another massive big miss as he brought tempo and potency to the Welsh attack. However the incoming Mike Phillips, if he makes the match day squad, will be more determined than ever and if selected I expect to see some commanding performances.

Wales do have one advantage over the other sides. They play Uruguay first which gives them an opportunity to get some cohesiveness in their side and allow the players who have suffered injuries to get up to match speed.

The Wales squad is still a strong contender to top the group. They possess four top class back row players and a backline that will score tries. George North was starting to look back to his best in the warm-up games and could end up as the tournament’s top try scorer. However, it cannot be argued that Wales have had a very tough pool made even tougher by the events of the recent weeks. In a group where tight margins, even points difference, could be crucial in making it to the knock-out stages the injuries sustained by Wales could push them below Australia and England in the pecking order of Pool A. Only time will tell.

Player to watch: it has to be George North. The Northampton winger is so quick and powerful that it makes him very difficult to stop. His performances could be the difference in tight games where one moment of magic can change the result. I also expect him to score multiple tries against Uruguay.

Prediction

It is so difficult to predict the order of which Pool A will end up in. I originally did not foresee any team winning all four games and suspected that Australia, England and Wales would win three games apiece. However, the improved form of Australia and the injuries sustained by the Wales’ squad have changed my mind. I think Wales will come in third place. I expect the England versus Australia game to decide who tops the group. This is another tough call but purely on home advantage I will back England to edge it. Despite this it is incredibly close and England, even if performing decently, could fail to make it out of the pool. This applies to all of the teams who had the misfortune to be drawn in Pool A.

England

Australia

Wales

Fiji

Uruguay