New Zealand strolls to an easy first victory over Tonga

 

Israel Dagg dives over as New Zealand comfortably cruised to a

After an elaborate opening ceremony the 2011 Rugby World Cup finally kicked off in Auckland after months of anticipation. After some questionable dancing from Jonah Lomu, the All Blacks and Tonga both welcomed the start of the tournament with their respective hakas that were full of passion and aggression.

It was fitting that Rugby’s leading point’s scorer, the ever impressive Dan Carter landed New Zealand’s first points from an easy kick just to the right of the posts. The only questionable inclusion in Graham Henry’s team to face Tonga was Israel Dagg starting at full-back instead of Mils Muliaina. However, Dagg only needed a few minutes before he repaid the faith that Henry had shown in him. Dagg took a pass from Richard Kahui and then he proceeded to step the final man to score New Zealand’s first try in the World Cup. Surprisingly Carter did not make the kick, however the All Blacks had got off to a good start and led 8-0.

After an excellent set-piece from New Zealand’s scrum Carter and his backs executed a classy backs move with Sonny Bill Williams giving a masterful inside ball to Kahui who finished the try. New Zealand found the try line far too easily. Fans of the All Blacks were hoping this was going to open the floodgates. This time Carter was accurate with the conversion attempt and gave New Zealand a 15-0 lead.

Shortly afterwards Sonny Bill Williams looked to have scored after clever breaks from Kahui and Dagg, however, the referee, George Clancy pulled it back as he ruled that New Zealand had obstructed Tonga from defending against the try.  The Kiwis did not take long to make a turnover count as Ma’aNonu broke away and fed Dagg who went in for his second try. Carter slotted the conversion to confirm that the All Blacks were starting to run away with the game. New Zealand 22- Tonga 0

Again after some smart interplay between New Zealand’s backs they once again crashed over the try line.  Kahui went over and Carter slotted the conversion to the sound of ‘Paint it Black’ by the Rolling Stones blasting out around the stadium. New Zealand 29- Tonga 0

The Tongans were fronting up in the tackle area, but they could not cope with the pace and skill at the All Blacks’ disposal. The Tongans put on some pressure in New Zealand’s half and were rewarded with a penalty.  Kurt Morath stepped up and got Tonga on the scoreboard making the half-time score New Zealand 29- Tonga 3.

At half-time without even breaking a sweat New Zealand had created a comfortable lead. The likes of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter were showing glimpses of brilliance, yet there were still a few mistakes on display. Sonny Bill Williams must have caused Graham Henry a selection headache now because he looked to be on great form, but should he be used as an impact sub? To strike fear into the rest of the competition New Zealand needed to up the tempo and finish off the Tongans.

Sonny Bill Williams started the 2^nd half strongly and looked to be in for a score, however, he was hauled down at the last moment by a desperate Tongan scramble defence. The All Blacks once again did not take long to respond as Jerome Kaino crashed over for a try after a beautiful chip by  Kahui that he collected and fed on to Kaino. Carter once again missed the conversion; missed kicks could prove costly in the latter stages of the tournament:  New Zealand 34- Tonga 3.

After Kaino’s try New Zealand should have pushed on to a crushing victory, however the Tongan spirit was evident as they put real pressure on the hosts. Tonga had a series of scrums on the New Zealand 5 metre line and won a few penalties. They surely could have won a penalty try after a couple more collapses. However, the ball was thrown out wide and after a few phases Alisona Taumalolo crashed over to the delight of his teammates.  Morath made the conversion: New Zealand 34 Tonga 10.

Sonny Bill Williams made a powerful break and then showed wonderful skill as he chipped ahead for Kahui who gathered well and stormed into the Tongan 22. After a few phases Nonu crashed over showing his power and pace which makes him one of the best centres in the World. Colin Slade who was on for Carter added the conversion: New Zealand 41 Tonga 10.

Tonga wound down the clock with a few phases of possession, but they could not add to the 10 point haul. However, they will be proud to have not been on the end of an absolute demolition. New Zealand never really got going today, but they showed glimpse of genius. The rest of the World Cup teams will not be too worried about the second half that they saw from New Zealand, however, they got an early win in the bag and had no injuries to their star players.

Final score: New Zealand 41-10 Tonga 

Man of the Match: Israel Dagg he was exceptional in attack today, he showed he could be a real threat in the tournament and has given himself a chance at the top try-scoring accolade in the World Cup.

Alisona Taumalolo

England name a strong side for Argentina clash

 Mike Tindall will lead England in their opening World Cup Pool B match in Dunedin against Argentina

The Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is less than 24 hours away and Martin Johnson has laid down a marker of his intention for the tournament by naming a dangerous team to face Argentina. Injury rules out Mark Cueto and Lewis Moody, however, the side at Johnson’s will definitely be up to the task of getting a crucial first pool victory over the Pumas.  

Mike Tindall Captains the side in Moody’s absence, after his performance in Dublin a few weeks ago it is clear that there will be plenty of leadership from the Gloucester centre. This will be a key factor especially as the young Manu Tuilagi partners him at outside-centre. Tuilagi has raw talent, there is no doubt about that, but now he faces a World Cup environment for the first time. This will be a daunting prospect, but he will step up to the task. Many suggest that Tuilagi will revitalise the back-line, he brings the same physical presence as Shontayne Hape, yet he is a talented attacking threat able to release the likes of Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage. Tuilagi’s inclusion will be just what England needs as he will make breaks through the Argentinian line and Ashton will hopefully be on his outside shoulder able to cause real damage in Dunedin.  You know what you get from Tindall, he will be a defensive rock for England; however, he showed a new side to him when he set up Armitage for his try in Dublin. Tindall’s deft chip behind the Irish rush defence shows that there is life in the old dog yet.

The back-three selected for England will be a real worry for Argentina; Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage can score tries from anywhere on the field.  The Pumas will have to be weary when Foden comes into the attacking line; he can pick running lines as well as any other full-backs in the tournament and has the pace to stretch defences. Defensively, Foden is technically great, he is able to haul opposing wings in to touch at the last minute and he can field the high ball with a commanding presence in the air. In Ashton’s short International career to date, we have seen his attacking nous and searing pace. His try against Australia must go down as one of the best tries to have ever been scored at Twickenham, the length of the field effort was outstanding.  The rugby league convert will be looking to make headlines once again with his ‘swan dive’, Johnson has rebuked him for his showmanship, but England fans will not care as long as he gets the ball down. Mark Cueto has been ruled out due to a back injury; however, Delon Armitage is a fantastic replacement, the London Irish utility back has an outstanding attacking game and is a more capable finisher than Cueto.

The reliable Jonny Wilkinson starts at fly-half for England after an impressive warm-up period. Toby Flood will be a key member of the squad, either as an impact player off the bench or as a starting fly-half in some Pool matches, however, Wilkinson’s experience and superior goal kicking game has been chosen by Martin Johnson. One only has to look back to the World Cups in 2003 and 2007 to see the impact that Wilkinson has on important matches; he knows how to handle the pressure and will give his forwards the territory needed to put pressure on opponents.  Wilkinson is partnered by Richard Wigglesworth at scrum-half, the Saracens man may not have been expecting to start in the first game in New Zealand, but injury ruled out Danny Care and there are still fitness worries over Ben Youngs. Wigglesworth did look sharp at times in the warm-up matches and he needs a big performance to assure England fans that he is capable of making the number 9 shirt his own. The Saracens scrum-half is a similar number 9 to Danny Care, he will look to take penalties and free kicks quickly and he will dart around the edges of the breakdown.

The back-row is an area of real strength for England; Tom Croft, James Haskell and Nick Easter have been given the nod to start. There is an excellent balance with the pace and agility of Croft and the sheer power of Haskell and Easter. Croft will be a useful line-out option, an area that will be vital during the World Cup, an efficient line-out is key to progression in the tournament.  Haskell is a powerful presence in the open side position, he will be an imposing opponent at the breakdown and he will look to knock opposing forwards backwards in the loose. Easter has recovered from his injury that ruled him out of the test in Ireland and will be another experience leader in the England side. His aggressive ball carrying will be vital to England getting over the gain line and he will want to make sure that Haskell does not steal the No. 8 shirt from him

Courtney Lawes and Louis Deacon start in the second-row; Lawes will look to improve after a disappointing Test in Ireland where he threw away a try-scoring position and looked a bit rusty with ball in hand, whilst Deacon will provide another reliable line-out jumper. It is interesting that Tom Palmer and the veteran warrior Simon Shaw have been side-lined for this match; Martin Johnson has clearly opted for a more dynamic duo. Lawes and Deacon will both provide more pace than Palmer and Shaw however; they will still look to be just as robust in the loose. Lawes on his day has the potential to compete with the best players in the World; it will be a real test for him to come up against some of the most experienced second rows in World Rugby as England progress through the tournament. Against Argentina England will want their set-piece to operate well to ease them into the tournament, Lawes and Deacon must be aggressive and work hard as there are two capable replacements for them in the squad.

The Argentinians have a powerful pack; so Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson and Dan Cole will have to be industrious in the scrum. Sheridan has struggled with injury in recent years, but it is promising to see him back in the team, he had a fantastic tournament in 2007 as he tore the Australian scrum to pieces in the Quarter-Final. He will need to be just as destructive as he faces the highly experienced Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma and Juan Figallo. The World Cup winner in 2003 Steve Thompson gets the nod ahead of Dylan Hartley, this is the most controversial call in the team. Hartley was on fine form for Northampton; however, Thompson does the basics well and is perhaps a slightly stronger scrummager that Hartley. Hartley will look to come off the bench and force his way back into a starting position. Dan Cole makes up the final member of the front-row, the Leicester man will look to assert himself against the Pumas as he faces strong competition from Matt Stephens. His set-piece work will have to be excellent, Stephens has been on top form with Saracens and had a promising warm-up period and he will feel disappointed to miss out.

Prediction: England by 12 Martin Johnson’s men may stutter in the 1^st half and the wet weather could make the start to the World Cup difficult; however, their back-three are so dangerous that when the game opens up in the 2^nd half England will overpower the Pumas.

Have you got thoughts or comments?   Message below or post/follow @tommyd91 on twitter.

Goal kicking – vital to any team’s success

Former All Black Nicky Evans is one of the best kickers in the Aviva Premiership. Last season he kicked the winning conversion to help Harlequins lift the European Challenge Cup Trophy.

The opening round of the Aviva Premiership and the first two rounds of the French Top 14 have demonstrated the necessity to have a reliable kicker. In the Aviva Premiership, the opening games were won by an average of just over 5 points. Goal kicking will be crucial to success as this year’s league looks like it will be more competitive then ever, even without the World Cup stars away at the World Cup.

Welford Road is usually a fortress where many teams struggle to get within touching distance of the Tigers, however, last year’s plucky competitors Exeter showed that anyone can win come match day. Exeter should not be underestimated this year, they have a strong pack and some exciting backs. However, Leicester had the chance to seal their first win of the season with George Ford’s two drop-goal attempts. Unfortunately for them, the both kicks drifted wide of the posts and the victory was handed over to the Chiefs.  Admittedly, Leicester Tigers are missing their starting fly-half in Toby Flood, however, in this league drop goals and penalties have to be successful in order to progress in the competition. Ford will learn from the experience and he will become a key member of the Leicester side during the World Cup period. The question is which fly-halves can stand up to the pressure?

It seems Nicky Evans is a player who can cope a the pressurised environment; one only has to look back to the Heineken Cup pool game in December 2008 vs. Stade Français, where Harlequins went through a gruelling 29 phases before Evans slotted the winning drop-goal. This sent Harlequins into the Quarter-Finals, where they went on to lose 5-6 against Leinster in the match that became infamous for the ‘Bloodgate’ scandal. However, Harlequins has recovered admirably from the scandal with a great win in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final last season. They made a solid start this season in the London Double header, with a 29-24 victory over London Irish. Evans contributed an impressive 19 points to the Londoner’s total and showed that he will once again be a real danger in the Premiership. With many clubs missing key experienced players due to International duties, Harlequins will be grateful that Evans is staying in London this season as he can control a game with authority and keeps the scoreboard ticking over.

Another player who kicked well at the weekend was Sam Vesty; the Bath fly-half was in great form with the boot as he kicked 4 penalties and a drop goal to seal a promising away victory over Newcastle at Kingston Park. Bath’s kicking game should only improve with the signing of Stephen Donald; the former All Black will provide more control at fly-half and is an excellent goal kicker himself. Newcastle usually rely on the kicking ability of Jimmy Goppeth, however, he could only add 3 penalties to the Newcastle scoreboard. If Newcastle wishes to stay in the Premiership next season, they will have to improve their attacking play and add variety to their scoring options. Goppeth alone is unlikely to be able to guarantee them Premiership survival.

Nicky Robinson made his first appearance for London Wasps against Saracens at Twickenham in their surprise 20-15 victory over the reigning champions. At Gloucester, Robinson was heavily criticised for his goal kicking and some suggest that is why he was not offered a new contract for the Cherry and Whites. However, he looked composed as he landed two conversions and two penalties to help seal a win for his new side. Robinson will be a key player for Wasps this season as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 9^th placed performance last year.

In the possible relegation fight between Worcester and Sale there was an inconsistent kicking performance from Andy Goode for Worcester and Nick MacLeod for Sale. MacLeod kept Sale in the game; however, he could not land a penalty just before heading into the final quarter that would have placed much needed pressure on the Warriors as they went into the final stage of the match. Goode nailed his first conversion from out on the wing, but he missed a penalty to stretch his sides lead, luckily he was given an easy conversion thanks to a monumental effort in the scrum that earned the Warriors a penalty try. Goode will be able to improve his kicking game throughout the season, but more importantly MacLeod will have to seriously improve as Sale has lost Charlie Hodgson to Saracens. Hodgson was a vital member of Sale’s squad when they won the Premiership in the 2005/6 season. And last year he kept them in the top flight competition with some excellent performances with the boot and in open play. Sale’s goal kicking options will be bolstered by the arrival of Tasesa Lavea when he returns from the World Cup in New Zealand. Lavea will bring much needed experience to the Sale side following stints with the Blues and the Chiefs in the Super 14 and also time with Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 in France. The Sharks will be hoping that Lavea’s kicking game will be able to replace the gap left by Charlie Hodgson.

The match at Franklins Gardens between Northampton and Gloucester was an exciting game, where both teams looked to run the ball and play some expansive rugby. Phil Dowson had a terrific game in the loose and Stephen Myler kept Northampton in the lead with the boot. In the second-half, Gloucester looked to have made an excellent comeback after Charlie Sharples dived over for their second try, however, the young Freddie Burns missed the conversion and looked like he was more likely to hit the corner flag then place the ball through the posts. Burns then looked to have redeemed himself with a confident drop-goal attempt that he struck beautifully; this gave Gloucester a lead with five minutes to go. However, Will James had a moment of madness as he hit Mike Haywood and gave away a penalty. Up stepped former Gloucester fly-half Ryan Lamb who nailed the 40 metre penalty attempt to secure a win on his debut for Northampton against his former club. Lamb was not well known for his composure at Gloucester, however, he managed to settle himself and kick the vital goal for his new side.

After watching Toulon vs. Clermont this weekend, I was struck by how much ‘les Toulonnais’ were missing Jonny Wilkinson as their kicker. Philippe Saint-Andre’s men started the match positively with new signings Steffon Armitage and Mathieu Bastareaud causing damage in open play. However, Toulon could not make their pressure count as their 1^st kicker; full-back Benjamin Lapeyre missed a long range kick early on. Then after more attacking play in Clermont’s half, fly-half Julien Dumora had a simple attempt that he pushed to the right of the uprights. Dumora went on to miss two more kicks at goal as Clermont were gradually building a lead with Brock James showing Toulon how to kick at goal and Jean-Marcel Buttin finishing off a fantastic flowing move following a searing break courtesy of Wesley Fofana. Dumora then added to Toulon’s woes when they were given a penalty in Clermont’s half. Dumora was not confident in his goal kicking so he elected to kick to touch. However, embarrassingly he missed touch and found the in-goal area. Dumora was taken off and replaced by Andre Pretorius, however, Pretorius missed a penalty to give Toulon a small chance of getting back into the game and then later, he opted to kick to touch from a penalty as Toulon could not guarantee the three points and they were too far behind to chip away at the scoreboard in the final quarter. Toulon could have quite easily won against Toulon with a good kicker; however, they wasted at least 15 points at attempted penalties and turned down two kickable penalties as they lost 17-0 at home. As far as RFC Toulon is concerned, they will be hoping Jonny Wilkinson returns after the World Cup group stage.

With the World Cup in New Zealand only days away International kickers will be putting in plenty of practice in order to prepare themselves for vital match-winning kicks. In 2003 England secured their first World Cup thanks to Jonny Wilkinson’s metronomic kicking routine. Against France in the Semi-Final, Wilkinson landed an impressive 24 points in appalling conditions in Sydney. Then in the final against Australia, he slotted 4 penalties and the iconic winning drop-goal in extra-time. Once again in 2007, England turned to Wilkinson to steer them into another World Cup Final. However, this time Wilkinson could not guide England to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy. Percy Montgomery, who ended up as the top points scorer in the 2007 World Cup with 105 points, kicked 4 penalties to put South Africa in a commanding position in the Final. They young and exuberant Francois Steyn added a final penalty to seal the victory for the Springboks, showing how important goal kicking is to grinding out victories.

It has been rumoured that Quade Cooper has been practicing his drop-goals in order to help Australia in the final stages of the tournament. Quade Cooper is a dangerous attacking threat, but some question his composure, it takes a special player to land the winning kick in a World Cup Final. Dan Carter can dictate play and has an impressive goal kicking record; many suggest that on home-turf with home advantage Carter is the man to lead the All Blacks to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy for the second time. Wilkinson should not be ruled out as a game winner; however South Africa’s Morne Steyn seems to have found his form just at the right time after scoring all of South Africa’s points in their 18-5 victory over the All Blacks. The question is, who do you think has what it takes to kick their side to victory in New Zealand?

Have you got thoughts or comments?   Message below or post/follow @tommyd91 on twitter.This post was also posted on www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk

Rugby World Cup 2011- pool by pool Guide

A detailed guide to every pool in the 2011 Rugby World Cup

Pool A

Canada

The Canadians have had a promising lead up to the World Cup with two victories over the USA and a promising win over Russia in June’s Churchill Cup. Most of the players are unknown entities; however, there are some talented backs with James Pritchard at full-back and Ryan Smith at centre. Also this autumn, look out for youngster Taylor Paris, at just 18 years of age; he will be one of the youngest players in New Zealand. Jamie Cudmore and Chauncey O’Toole are two of the most well-known members of the squad in the forwards as the play for Clermont Auvergne and the Ospreys respectively. Prediction: Canada faces a tough Pool with France, New Zealand, and Tonga all likely to score highly against them. They will probably finish bottom of Pool A.

France

The French are a real enigma when it comes to World Cup rugby, it depends how they turn up on the day. In their prime, they can compete with any team in the World. This year’s Six Nations was disappointing for France as they lost to Italy in Rome, however, Les Bleus will be keen to make amends in New Zealand with a strong opening performance against Japan in Auckland.  Marc Lièvremont’s side will be a force to contend with as they have a great balance of flair and pace out wide and strength and brutality in the forwards. There are try-scorers throughout the entire back-line with Vincent Clerc, Cedric Heymans and Aurelien Rougerie to name a few. Whilst in the forwards there is plenty of experience with Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquoy and Nicolas Mas just a few players that can provide a strong platform to allow their creative backs to shine. Prediction: France should qualify 2^nd in Pool A and will be likely to face England in the Quarter Finals. England should just about manage to scrape through against the French as the French struggle with consistency in the latter stages of World Cups.

Japan

This year’s tournament sees Japan face Canada once again in the pool stage. Last time the two sides met in the World Cup Japan sealed a late 12-12 draw with Shotaro Onishi’s last-minute conversion. There is plenty of experience in the Japanese squad with 10 players having won 30 caps or more, this will be of real value to Japan’s effort and should help them in their games with Canada and Tonga. A few experienced players worth keeping an eye on are Hitoshi Ono in the second-row and Hirotoki Onozawa on the wing as the most experienced player in the whole squad with 64 caps. Prediction: Japan will not get past the group stage; however, they will look to secure two wins if possible against Tonga and Canada.

New Zealand

The All Blacks start the 2011 World Cup as firm favourites on their home turf. Surprisingly, the Kiwis have not been in a Final since 1995, where they famously lost to South Africa. Since then, they have picked up a ‘chokers’ tag that can only be banished with a victory in this year’s Tournament. They have the best players in World Rugby at their disposal starting with one of the best Captains in the World, Richie McCaw. McCaw is a fantastic leader and is a specialist when it comes to the breakdown. Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu are two war horses in the front-row and will give any other front-rows serious challenges throughout the tournament. The All Blacks have Dan Carter leading the back-line; he can control a game with maturity and is a real attacking threat. Outside backs such as Cory Jane and Isaia Toeava provide real attacking flair, whilst Sonny Bill Williams adds a huge physical presence in the centres alongside Ma’a Nonu. Prediction: It is hard to look past the All Blacks as favourites, as long as key players like Carter and McCaw stay fit, New Zealand should become World Cup Champions on home turf once again.

Tonga

Tonga is one of many physical lower ranked sides in the World Cup this year; they will test teams’ commitment at the breakdown and in the scrum. However, they lack the skills to stretch the best sides. The Tongans caused England and South Africa some issues in 2007, but this year they face a very tough pool. Aleki Lutui is one of Tonga’s most experienced forwards and is one of Worcester’s key squad members. Tonga has one of the least experienced sides with many of the quad having won 10 caps or less. Tonga will not get past the group stage as they face tough competition from New Zealand and France, however they will be hoping to grind out wins over Canada and Japan.

Pool B

Argentina

The Pumas were excellent in 2007 beating the hosts France in Paris, however, this World Cup Argentina do not look like they will show that same form. They were less than convincing against Wales in Cardiff in their warm-up test; admittedly, teams who underestimate Argentina could be in for a shock as they definitely have quality within their ranks. Felipe Contepomi is an impressive leader and an able goal kicker, elsewhere, there is plenty of pace in the back-line with Horacio Agulla and Gonzalo Camacho two wingers able to cause havoc with defences. Traditionally Argentina has a strong set of forwards and this year, they have the highly experienced Rodrigo Roncero in the front row, he will provide strong set piece ball along with Patricio Albacete in the second row. Albacete is an excellent line-out option and destructive ball-carrier. Vice-Captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe is another player to keep an eye out for; the back rows in Pool B will have their work cut out keeping tabs on him.  Prediction: Will Struggle to get out of the Group stage, on their day they can be one of the top sides in World Rugby, however, Scotland have had better form going into the tournament and some of the aging Argentinian squad may struggle.

England

The English know how to get results in the World Cup, they keep their rugby direct and simple and the forwards maintain a strong platform for the backs to score tries. This World Cup England will be relying on Jonny Wilkinson to kick vital penalties in the key games. Form-wise England will feel fairly confident ahead of their 1^st game against Argentina, having won two out of three of their warm-up games. The new centre partnership of Manu Tuilagi and Mike Tindall will be crucial to success in the competition, Tuilagi brings pace and dynamism to the back-line, whilst Tindall keeps England’s defensive line robust. The real danger man for England is Chris Ashton, if he can return to the same form he found in the Six Nations, he will be a real threat to England's opposition. With Captain Lewis Moody struggling to overcome an injury, the likely back-row combination will be Tom Croft, James Haskell and Nick Easter.  This is one of the strongest back-rows in the competition, Croft is an agile line-out jumper, whilst Haskell and Easter provide the necessary bulk to get over the gain-line and win quick ball for the backs.  Prediction: England should qualify 1^st in Pool B and will be likely to face France in the Quarter-Finals. England have the game to beat the French, however, they will possibly end up playing Australia in the Semi-Finals. The Wallabies are strong and have try-scorers all over the park whereas, England have shown in the warm-up games that they are not as capable of taking their chances as they come.

Georgia

The Georgians have done well to make it to the World Cup; however, unfortunately for them they will be one of the ‘whipping boys’ in Pool B. In 2007 in Bordeaux they had an extraordinary game against Ireland giving the Irish a real shock; however the men in Green narrowly won 14-10. This year their best hope will be the game against Romania as Georgia has had the better of the Romanians in recent matches. Pride will be at stake for Richie Dixon’s men as they hope to avoid Pool B’s wooden spoon prize. There are some interesting players to watch out for, firstly in the second-row Mamuka Gorgodze is a monster weighing 120kg and standing at an impressive 6 ft. 5 inches tall. He will lead from the front providing an imposing presence in the loose and he will significantly bolster the scrum.  Irakli Machkhaneli is an experienced Winger for the Georgians having represented his country 48 times and he is a capable try scorer having found the try-line 16 times for Georgia. Prediction: Group stage- The Georgian World Cup experience would be a success if they could assure themselves of a victory vs. Romania and maintain their dominance as one of the emerging rugby nations.

Romania

The Romanians had to win a two-legged play-off against Uruguay in order to qualify; the team will struggle to win a match in the competition. The game against Georgia is their best chance of a victory and they will struggle to compete with the fitness and skill levels of the top-tier teams such as England, Argentina and Scotland.  There are a few notable players in the side who have joined European sides including their Captain Marius Tincu, who is an excellent technical scrummager and reliable hooker and  the experienced number 8 Ovidiu Toniţa, who was one of the youngest players at the 1999 World Cup. Prediction: Romania will struggle to pick up many points in the games and will push for a victory against Georgia. However, it is likely that they will finish bottom of Pool B.

Scotland

The Scottish had some promising results in their warm-up games beating Ireland 10-6 in the final minutes in their 1^st test and then they were more convincing against Italy in a 23-12 win allowing them to rise to 7^th in the IRB World Rankings. Andy Robinson has created a side full of confidence that is capable of taking on any of the top sides in the World. England in particular should not underestimate the Scots, they keep the scoreboard ticking over with the boot of either Chris Patterson or Dan Parks and they have some exciting attacking backs including Sean Lamont and Simon Danielli. Robinson is spoilt for choice in the second row with the Nathan Hines or the destructive Jim Hamilton to choose from, whilst also having the luxury of also having the young, athletic Richie Gray to add to his options and of course his inspiring Captain, Alistair Kellock. Another area of strength is the back-row with Richie Vernon, Alisdair Strokosch and Kelly Brown likely starting candidates who will have to compete with England and Argentina’s strong set of forwards. Prediction: Scotland will be a tough side to break down and they should be able to narrowly beat Argentina. However, they will struggle to move past the Quarter-Finals where they will be likely to meet the All Blacks.

Pool C

Australia

The current Tri-Nations Champions have put some doubt into the minds of rugby fans worldwide as to who the favourite should be in this year’s tournament. The Wallabies certainly have try-scorers a plenty with Digby Ioane very capable of running rings around defences and Drew Mitchell another real attacking threat. The battle of the fly-halves in the World Cup will be a key area in order for a team to lift the Web Ellis Trophy in October. Australia has Quade Cooper at No.10, a player who is an exciting attacking threat, however, he has been criticised by some for his defensive frailties. He does not have the defensive game of Jonny Wilkinson or Dan Carter; some seriously question the exclusion of Matt Giteau from the Wallabies squad as he is a terrific play-maker who has a solid tackling ability. Australians will be hoping their forwards front up once again against Ireland’s powerful pack. James Horwill and Rocky Elsom are two players to keep an eye out for as they are dominant in the loose and add definitive size to the set-piece. Prediction: Australia should comfortably make it through the group stage and make it to the Final where they are likely to face the hosts New Zealand. Although the Wallabies beat New Zealand in the Tri-Nations, they will not be able to compete with an All Black side on home turf with the motivation of previous failures to help them achieve their goal. The Wallabies should finish be successful runners up.

Ireland

The Irish had a disappointing warm-up period, they chose to play three main warm up games with an Ireland XV also playing Connacht. The men in green narrowly lost 10-6 to Scotland, then twice to France and then finally, most recently they lost at home to England. Declan Kidney’s team must get off to a flying start in New Zealand; luckily, their first pool game is against the USA. A try-fest will significantly raise confidence in the Irish camp. Tactical kicking will play an important part in Ireland progressing in the tournament; either Jonathan Sexton or Ronan O’Gara will look to give their team territory and to add plenty of points from penalties. Elsewhere, in the forwards, Paul O’Connell will lead the side with authority and give an excellent line-out option. Ireland can also beat people out wide with Tommy Bowe and Keith Earls key danger men in space and on the counter-attack. Prediction: Ireland will come 2^nd in their group and will be likely to face a physical South African side in the next round. They will not progress beyond the Quarter-Finals.

Italy

The Auzzurri will be looking to push on from a promising Six Nations tournament in which they managed to pull off a shock narrow 22-21 victory over the French. The warm-up period has been mixed with a 31-24 win over Italy at home and a disappointing 23-12 loss away to Scotland. The Italians should not be snubbed by the Australians or the Irish as they have a strong set of forwards with a lot of experience such as Marco Bortalami, Martin Castrogiovanni and the Italians also boast one of the best number 8’s in the World in Sergio Parisse. In the backs Andrea Masi was on fine form against the French in the Six Nations and Mirco Bergamasco is an attacking threat with ball in hand and with the boot when he is on form. Prediction: Italy could cause Ireland some problems and if they are on the top of their game they could sneak a shock win. However, it is more likely that they will get victories over Russia and the USA and not make it through the group stage.

Russia

The Russians are coached by former Sale head coach Kingsley Jones and have former rugby-league convert Henry Paul as their backs coach. Russia is the 2^nd lowest ranked team at the World Cup this year and has a real challenge on its hands to come away with any points. The match against the United States will be the Russians’ only chance to record some points in the group stage. In the lead-up to the tournament, Russia played the Ospreys, Newport Gwent Dragons and Aviva Premiership sides Northampton Saints and Gloucester. They lost all of the matches and go into the World Cup with low chances. Vasily Artemiev is an exciting prospect on the wing who has recently signed for Northampton. He is quick and has great footwork. Yuri Kushnarev at fly-half is only 25; however, he brings great experience to the side with his 43 caps. Another notable player is the second-row Adam Byrnes who plays for the Super 15 outfit the Melbourne Rebels, his experience in the Southern Hemisphere will be vital to help his team achieve their goals in New Zealand. Prediction: Russia will bring a physical presence to the World Cup, but they lack the skills and fitness to challenge teams in their pool. They will probably finish bottom of Pool C.

United States

Takudzwa Ngwenya scored one of the tries of the tournament in France in 2007 when he outpaced Bryan Habana to the corner flag. He has been plying his trade in Biarritz ever since and has made a name for himself in the Top 14. The USA has some reliable players in Captain Todd Clever, who is a fierce competitor and commanding leader and the veteran prop Mike MacDonald who will try and secure the Eagles a platform from the scrum. Another player who could cause some problems for defences in New Zealand is Chris Wyles; the Saracens full-back had a terrific season as he helped his team win their first Aviva Premiership title. It will be interesting to see if the USA has improved their rugby, Nigel Melville has been heavily involved in his role as President of Rugby operations in America in promoting the game to young college sportsmen. The Americans are proud athletes and will give their best in the pool. Prediction: The USA should beat Russia, but unfortunately for them they will be at the hands of heavy defeats from Australia, Ireland and Italy. The USA will finish 2^nd bottom in Pool C.

Pool D

Fiji

Fiji play an expansive style of rugby, however, they have some serious muscle in the forwards. The Fijian back-row is impressive, Sakiusa Matadigo is a key member of French Top 14 side Montpellier and the Islanders have Gloucester Rugby’s Akapusi Qera as vice-Captain, an experienced Premiership player who adds speed and strength in open-play. To control play from the fly-half position Fiji can call on Nicky Little, who has amassed an impressive 67 caps for his country. Little is a great goal kicker so if a game against Wales or Samoa comes down to a pressure kick, he could be the man to land it. Prediction: The Fijians should dominate Namibia and they will test Samoa. However, Wales will not make the mistake of underestimating Fiji again and should overcome Sam Domoni’s men. Fiji will score some exciting tries, but they will not progress past the pool stage.

Namibia

The Africans are likely to be on the end of some heavy defeats in Pool D with Fiji as their closest opponents in the IRB World Rugby rankings 5 places above them. They are captained by Jacques Burger who was outstanding last season for Saracens, Burger will work incredibly hard for his country; however, the side lacks experience and skill with many players currently playing in lower divisions in England, Africa and Romania. Prediction: It will be a tough time for the Namibians in the World Cup, however, they have done well to qualify for the tournament and if they score some spirited tries they will be prouder. They will sit bottom of Pool D.

Samoa

There has been some exciting players in the Aviva Premiership in recent years; Alesana Tuilagi, Sailosi Tagicakibau, David Lemi, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and Seilala Mapusua to name a few. These players all combine strength with serious pace and they will have to be defended carefully by their opponents. In the forwards, Filipo Levi in the second-row and Mahonri Schwalger at hooker will provide aggression and force at the set-piece. The Samoans are currently ranked 10^th in the World and shocked the Southern Hemisphere with a 32-23 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney. The key to their success could be if teams underestimate them. Prediction: Samoa will have a fascinating game against Fiji that will be difficult to call and they will push Wales and fight valiantly against South Africa. The Samoans’ passion is a fantastic sight to see at the World Cup; however, sadly they will be unlikely to proceed further than the pool stage.

South Africa

The current holders of the Webb Ellis trophy will be looking to defend their title with a strong performance in New Zealand. South Africa traditionally is a very physical side with a pack that frightens most teams. The veteran second-row Victor Matfield has won an outstanding 107 caps for his country and he still has plenty of life left in him. He will be a key member of the line-out and in open play he will look to force himself over the gain line. South Africa’s real strength is in their back row options, they can choose between Heinrich Brüssow who will graft his socks off; Bath bound Francois Louw, the crafty Schalk Burger, newcomer Willem Alberts and the enormous Pierre Spies. Wales will have to be on top of their game to counteract the impressive back-row. Unfortunately, South Africa’s strengths do not end after the forwards; the backs are lethal at times. Morne Steyn and Francois Steyn are goal kicking masters, whilst Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen can cut holes in defences from anywhere.  Prediction: The Springboks should comfortably make it to the Semi-Finals; however, they will probably face New Zealand. The Kiwis will be a real danger in the final stages of the tournament and will grind out a win over their Southern Hemisphere rivals. South Africa will be deserved 3^rd place playoff winners.

Wales

The Welsh face an incredibly tough group; they arguably face the most physical opponents in the group stage in the entire competition. Wales do not have a great record when it comes to Fiji, they were famously knocked-out of the 2007 World Cup in the 34-48 loss in the group stage and they also drew 16-16 in the November Internationals. Samoa will also pose a serious threat to the Welsh hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages. The Welsh defence will have to watch the battering ram that is Alesana Tuilagi and Seilala Mapusua in the centre. Luckily for Wales they face their toughest test first against defending Champions South Africa.  On their day Wales could challenge the Springboks with George North and Leigh Halfpenny exciting try-scorers on the wing. The Welsh also have an impressive set of forwards, Alun Wyn Jones will secure solid line-out ball, whilst Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones will strengthen the scrum. Sam Warburton leads the team and he will be a useful team member who will have to tackle his heart out and secure the Welsh quick and secure ball. Prediction: Wales will make the Quarter-Final; however, they will probably face Australia and struggle to compete with their speed and creativity out wide.