Which teams show the most promise leading into the World Cup and who needs to find their form quickly?

Which Captain will emulate Martin Johnson in lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy in October?

Australia

The Wallabies won their first Tri-Nations title since 2001 after a clinical 25-20 victory over New Zealand at the weekend. This win against the favourites for the World Cup title has given the team a great boost in moral so close to their opening match against Italy. Australia had been fairly quiet in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup. However, it seems that they have found their form at the right time with a well-rounded team. The Australians have demonstrated great physicality at the breakdown with Radike Samo in the back-row and James Horwill in the second-row. The Wallabies also have serious pace out wide, with Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper likely to cause defences problems.  Australia’s main challenge in the pool stage will be Ireland, but on recent form, the Irish will struggle to cause an upset against an experienced Australian team.

England

Martin Johnson’s men have won two out of three of their warm-up matches with the most recent victory being 20-9 away win in Dublin. The new centre partnership of Tindall and Tuilagi seems to work well, Tindall leads the defensive line with authority and Tuilagi adds some much needed pace to the England centres. With Andrew Sheridan back in the side, the scrum will be more assured. If England can play simple rugby at times with more aggressive attacking phases they could progress in New Zealand to the latter stages of the tournament. England has a potentially dangerous pool, with Scotland and Argentina both looking for 2^nd place and a major scalp by beating the former World Cup champions.

Wales

Warren Gatland will be proud of his team after a tough warm-up schedule. After running England close at Twickenham in their 1^st test they bounced back with a convincing 19-9 win in Cardiff. Then once again in Cardiff, they beat a slightly out of form Argentinian side 28-13 – this was a great example of taking chances. Wales are spoilt with talent in their backs, they have the option to play James Hook at fly-half, centre or full-back and have explosive pace in Leigh Halfpenny and sheer strength with Jamie Roberts returning to his best form. Wales have a tough group with South Africa, Fiji and Samoa as their other main competitors. They are ably led by Sam Warburton who will be competitive at the breakdown and offer a ball-carrying option in the loose. However, on their day they could beat all of these teams. The Welsh should make the quarter-finals and depending on who they face could sneak in to the semi-finals.

New Zealand

Although New Zealand lost their last match against Australia 25-20 and came 2^nd in the Tri-Nations, the All Blacks are still strong favourites to win on home turf. They have such a strong set of forwards and incredibly talented backs that will strike fear into any team in the competition. Dan Carter is arguably the best player in the World at the moment and Richie McCaw is the best Captain in World rugby. With home advantage and the skill at Sir Graham Henry’s disposal it is hard to look past the All Blacks as likely winners of the Webb-Ellis Trophy.

France

The French have kept fairly quiet in their World Cup preparations with two wins over Ireland, in the 1^st Test in Bordeaux they won 19-12 and then in the 2^nd Test in Dublin they won 26-22. They face New Zealand in their pool, but will be almost guaranteed a place in the quarter finals as their other opponents are Canada, Japan and Tonga. The French have great kicking scrum-halves in Dimitri Yachvilli and Morgan Parra. Also there are try-scorers throughout the back-line; Vincent Clerc, Cedric Heymans and Aurelien Rougerie to name a few. After a disappointing Six Nations, the French will be dangerous. If they can test New Zealand in their pool they can send out a strong message to the other teams in New Zealand.

Scotland

The Scots have had a promising warm-up period, they only chose to play two games and have been training in Australia ahead of the World Cup. After a last-minute 10-6 win over Ireland and a convincing win 23-12 over Italy, Andy Robinson’s squad will be feeling confident heading in to the tournament. Kelly Brown and Max Evans will be two to look out for in the competition. Scotland has drawn England, Argentina, Georgia and Romania in their group. It will be a tough test; however, Scotland can be a difficult team to break down. Chris Patterson and Dan Parks are capable goal-kickers and they will keep the scoreboard ticking over. Argentina was very unconvincing against Wales, so Scotland will be hopeful of progressing through to the quarter-finals as the runner-up in Pool B.

South Africa

The Springboks had a disappointing start to the Tri-Nations tournament, with a heavy 40-7 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks and losses against Australia.  However, South Africa managed to get their revenge over the Kiwis with a fantastic 18-5 win in their final Tri-Nations game. Morne Steyn has found terrific form with the boot; he will be a real danger in New Zealand having scored all of South Africa’s points in Port Elizabeth.  A huge amount of experience has been chosen in the 30 man squad, the Springboks boast 18 World Cup winning players. The South Africans’ physicality will be brutal in New Zealand with the imposing Pierre Spies, Heinrich Brüssow and Bakkies Botha providing impressive bulk in the forwards. South Africa should make the semi-finals. Anything can happen on the day in the final stages, but they will be confident of fronting up to any team in New Zealand.

Ireland

Ireland had a disappointing warm-up period before the World Cup. After strong performances from Leinster and Munster in recent years in the Heineken Cup and Magners league, expectations have increased in Ireland. Ireland 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 France twice and then finally most recently 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. If Ireland can turn their act around, they have the ability to tear teams apart. Their main strength usually is their pin-point accuracy with their tactical kicking. Either Jonathan Sexton or Ronan O’Gara is perfectly capable of pinning teams back and giving their forwards vital territory to win. In the forwards Paul O’Connell will lead 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. Ireland could make the semi-finals, but it seems they would need to come top of the pool to do so.

Argentina

The Pumas have only played one warm-up game and were lacklustre against Wales in Cardiff. They fell to a disappointing 28-13 defeat to the Welsh. Argentina was impressive in 2007, making the semi-finals and finishing 3^rd overall. However, it seems that they will not be up to the standard they were in France. There are many dangerous players such as Gonzalo Tiesi and Horacio Agulla, who can cause problems for defences. Traditionally, Argentina has a strong set of forwards and with Rodrigo Roncero in the front row they have a powerful scrummager. Their forwards can cause considerable damage in defensive lines; the likes of Patricio Albacete and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe are aggressive ball-carriers. Low expectations could be a good thing for the Pumas as teams may underestimate them.

My predictions

Pool A

Winner- New Zealand- The Kiwis should stroll through the group, France may challenge early on in the game against them, but they will pull off a comfortable pool clean sweep.

2^nd place – France- Should not be underestimated this year, their kicking game is excellent and they have real threats in attack with the likes of Vincent Clerc and Aurélien Rougerie.

Pool B

Winner- England- A likely slow start with a laboured win over Argentina and England will find their feet with a commanding win over Scotland.

2^nd place- Scotland- Should just about beat Argentina to the second spot in Pool B, however points difference will be vital. The Scots will have to play some running rugby against Romania and Georgia

Pool C

Winner- Australia- The Wallabies are a real threat this year, they should comfortably beat Ireland who have not found their form in the Warm-up games and they will obliterate the USA and Russia.

2^nd place – Ireland- Will make it through to the Quarter-Finals because Italy will not be able to match their ability to control a game with Jonathan Sexton or Ronan O'Gara at the helm.

Pool D

Winner- South Africa- Their forwards are very physical and Morne Steyn will kick his goals making them a tough side to beat. Bryan Habana is also after the try-scoring record at the World Cup- look out for him

2^nd place – Wales- Could challenge South Africa on their day, but it would be unlikely that South Africa will lose to the Welsh. George North and Leigh Halfpenny are two wingers to keep an eye on in the tournament.

Quarter Finals

Australia vs. Wales- Australia should win comfortably.

England vs. France- England to win via the boot of Jonny Wilkinson in a repeat of the 2003 Semi-Final.

South Africa vs. Ireland- South Africa will be too physical for Ireland and Morne Steyn will kick 19 points taking the Springboks into the Semi Finals.

New Zealand vs. Scotland- The hosts should completely dominate Scotland and will be a class apart.

Semi-Finals

Australia vs. England- England will put up a valiant effort, but will fall short. Australia's backs show more creativity, the Wallabies to win by 7 points.

South Africa vs. New Zealand- This will be the best Semi-Final, both teams will knock seven bells out of each other in the forwards and both sides have dangerous backs that can create and exploit gaps. The All Blacks will edge through with home advantage and the desire not to choke being key factors.

Final

Australia vs. New Zealand- Quade Cooper has been practicing his drop-goals reby cently, however, it will be won by Dan Carter's superior game control and tactical kicking and the leadership of Richie McCaw, who will go down in history as one of Rugby's best ever Captains. 

Rugby World Cup Winner 2011: New Zealand,

Have you got thoughts or comments?  Do you think New Zealand has what it takes to win the 2011 World Cup? Message below or post/follow @tommyd91 on twitter. This was also posted on www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk