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 2nd 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 1st 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 1st 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 1st test and then they were more convincing against Italy in a 23-12 win allowing them to rise to 7th 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 2nd 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 2nd 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 2nd 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 10th 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 3rd 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.
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