Monday 14 September 2015 13:41, UK
South Africa look like the clear favourites to top Pool B but will face stern tests from Scotland and Samoa.
South Africa may have lost four on the trot in 2015 - including a first ever loss to Argentina - however the Springboks are serious contenders for a third world title. Scotland and Samoa will battle it out for second place while Japan and the USA will be good value in the entertainment stakes, but will lack the firepower to disrupt the Pool B heavyweights. Whoever wins this Pool will face the second-placed team from Pool A (either England, Australia or Wales) while the runners-up will face the winner from the pool of death.
Fixtures
19 Sept: South Africa v Japan - 4.45pm, Brighton
20 Sept: Samoa v USA - 12pm, Brighton
23 Sept: Scotland v Japan - 2.30pm, Gloucester
26 Sept: South Africa v Samoa - 4.45pm, Birmingham
27 Sept: Scotland v USA - 2.30pm, Leeds
3 Oct: Samoa v Japan - 2.30pm, Milton Keynes
3 Oct: South Africa v Scotland - 4.45pm, Newcastle
7 Oct: South Africa v USA - 4.45pm, Olympic Stadium
10 Oct: Samoa v Scotland - 4.45pm, Newcastle
11 Oct: USA v Japan - 8pm, Gloucester
Strengths: A powerful set of forwards who like to play the game aggressively. The South African game plan is rarely very difficult to predict, but is not easy to stop. Big forwards taking crash ball wears a team down and gaps eventually appear. Recently they ventured towards a more expansive game, but are likely to return to the tried and tested for the World Cup.
Weaknesses: A poor run of form in recent times and sometimes are in danger of being one-dimensional. The Springboks have traditionally struggled with a high tempo game due to their sizeable pack, and also battle to put away teams that can match them physically.
Who we will love: Tendai Mtawarira. South Africa's loveable prop off the field is a fast-moving loosehead on it, and he's not too shabby at scrum time. Most famous for his scrum battles with Phil Vickery in South Africa during the 2009 Lions tour, 'Beast' has his name shouted every time he gets the ball, and given how hard he works in the loose, that's a regular occurrence. A tough man to stop close to the line when he's part of a constant bombardment, which is South Africa's way.
Who will split opinion: The captain Jean de Villiers. One of South Africa's greats, De Villiers is now in the twilight of his career, and with the recent introduction of young talent in Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, De Villiers' place in the team is under threat. Add to that the fact that he's played very little rugby after suffering a horrific injury in November, and his inclusion has divided the rugby-mad public of South Africa.
MVP: Duane Vermeulen. If South Africans are known for their size, there must be something special about the man they call Thor. Vermeulen has been injured in recent times and is still recovering from neck surgery, but there's never been any question of his inclusion. He's no smaller than the traditional No 8s from South Africa, but plays a more expansive game, and hits hard in the tackle. Vital to the Springboks' chances.
Most likely to see red: If pantomime villains wore green and gold, they would look a lot like Eben Etzebeth. Still only 24, Etzebeth is the natural successor to Bakkies Botha as the enforcer in an already aggressive pack. His natural game is to be in the faces of opponents, which can fall foul of the referee and his assistants if not done within the letter of the law.
Forwards: Jannie du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Schalk Brits, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Stef du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Willem Alberts, Schalk Burger, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen.
Backs: Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Handre Pollard, Morne Steyn, Damian de Allende, Jean de Villiers, Jesse Kriel, Bryan Habana, Willie le Roux, Zane Kirchner, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen.
Strengths: Samoa can match anyone physically and have strong backs with plenty of pace, power and skills. They also have an excellent back-row who can carry well and make plenty of tackles - and boy, do they love to tackle!
Weaknesses: Their scrum and lineouts have not been traditionally strong but they have made strong inroads into the art of scrummaging. They may have lost giant prop Logovi'i Mulipola with an Achilles injury but the good news is that Toulouse prop Census Johnston has been called up. Johnston, who has won 51 caps for Samoa, announced his international retirement in April but it's great to have him back on the world stage. Lack of time together is also an issue for Samoa, while they also feel they are not given regular big games or the same treatment as other teams.
Who we will love: Tim Nanai-Williams. The full-back may not be the biggest and strongest player around but he's got the skillset to frighten anyone on the counter-attack.
Who will split opinion: Winger Alesana Tuilagi has a superb rugby pedigree and has the speed and power to make him a formidable opponent anywhere on the field. Leicester Tigers fans have a soft spot for him while England fans will remember the punch-up he had with Lewis Moody in 2005.
MVP: Kahn Fotuali'i. Samoa will battle in the set-pieces and it will be up to the Northampton scrum-half to make sure they make the most if it.
Player most likely to see red: Their unbelievable tackling and physicality often leads to them being pinged. The amount of work they will have to do in the set-pieces and the loose could tire them as the game goes on, which may have a negative effect on their tackling technique.
Forwards: Ole Avei, Manu Leiataua, Motu Matu'u, Viliamu Afatia, Jake Grey, Census Johnston, Anthony Perenise, Sakaria Taulafo, Fa'atiga Lemalu, Filo Paulo, Joe Tekori, Kane Thompson, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Alafoti Faosiliva, Jack Lam, Ofisa Treviranus, TJ Ioane, Sanele Vavae Tuilagi.
Backs: Vavao Afemai, Kahn Fotuali'i, Patrick Fa'apale, Tusi Pisi, Michael Stanley, Rey Lee-Lo, Johnny Leota, Paul Perez, George Pisi, Fa'atoina Autagavaia, Ken Pisi, Alesana Tuilagi, Tim Nanai-Williams.
Strengths: Scotland are well-drilled and well coached. Not the most expansive team traditionally, Vern Cotter has ensured that the basics are done right by his side, and with a good kicking game they play sensibly in their pursuit for territory.
Weaknesses: A poor run of form running into the tournament, Scotland lost every game of the Six Nations and their only wins in 2015 have come in last month's back-to-back warm-ups games against Italy. Their game plan is a simple one, but as with all teams with simple game plans, if the opposition defend it successfully from the outset there's not much room to exploit them in other ways.
Who we will love: Stuart Hogg. Glasgow's quick-footed full-back is a counter-attacking weapon who can create and exploit gaps in a covering defence. He's also capable of playing fly-half, and occasionally pops up at first receiver, which keeps the opposition guessing.
Who will split opinion: Josh Strauss is a talented loose forward but controversially, he only qualifies for the World Cup a day after it starts, which has led to outcry in Scotland as well as outside it, with people questioning the legitimacy of his inclusion and the three-year residency rules.
MVP: Finn Russell is a young player but a rising star. If Scotland's game play is direct and based on the basics, the decision-making and execution of the fly-half carries added importance. Russell does not look out of place directing players much older than him, and kicks well out of hand. South Africa and Samoa both boast enormous packs. If Scotland are able to keep those packs moving with sharp kicking, it will go a long way to stringing together wins.
Most likely to see red: Sean Lamont. In the 2007 Six Nations referee Craig Joubert spotted Lamont committing a professional foul against France in Paris and sent him to the sin bin. Joubert was correct in sending Lamont to the bin, but it was the wrong Lamont. It was in fact brother Rory who had committed the foul. Sean Lamont gets cards for literally nothing.
Forwards: Kevin Bryce, David Denton, John Hardie, Josh Strauss, Alasdair Strokosch, Ryan Wilson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh.
Backs: Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Matt Scott, Richie Vernon, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Stuart Hogg, Greig Laidlaw, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Henry Pyrgos.
Strengths: Japan love to play the game at one heck of a pace and look to make the most of the pitch and space. They have some speedsters too, like Yoshikazu Fujita. Eddie Jones is also at the helm as their coach and with Steve Borthwick helping to sort out their lineout, Japan will certainly be worth watching.
Weaknesses: Japan struggle to find the physicality to compete in the set-pieces, although the likes of Lelei Amanaki Mafi will certainly change the stereotyping of Japan players being small but fast. There is no denying their commitment and bravery but they will be under pressure in the scrum and mauls.
Who we will love: Yoshikazu Fujita. A balanced winger who just loves scoring tries.
Who will split opinion: Not a player but their coach Eddie Jones. Jones is a superb coach and is certainly well respected in rugby circles. However, England fans have long memories and will remember his sparring with Sir Clive Woodward in the lead-up to the 2003 World Cup final.
MVP: Fumiaki Tanaka. The scrum-half plays his rugby in New Zealand with the Highlanders and is understudy to the mercurial Aaron Smith.
Player most likely to see red: Lelei Amanaki Mafi. The big No 8 is a superb player and certainly adds a lot of grunt to Japan's forwards. His tackles are ferocious - fair but ferocious, however the tackle count may take its toll on him.
Forwards: Keita Inagaki, Masataka Mikami, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Hiroshi Yamashita, Shota Horie, Takeshi Kizu, Hiroki Yuhara, Luke Thompson, Shinya Makabe, Shoji Ito, Hitoshi Ono, Michael Leitch, Ryu Koliniasi Holani, Michael Broadhurst, Hendrik Tui, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Justin Ives.
Backs: Fumiaki Tanaka, Atsushi Hiwasa, Harumichi Tatekawa, Yu Tamura, Kosei Ono, Craig Wing, Male Sa'u, Kenki Fukuoka, Akihito Yamada, Karne Hesketh, Yoshikazu Fujita, Ayumu Goromaru, Kotaro Matsushima, Toshiaki Hirose.
Strengths: A few of the players in the Eagles team are former American Football players, and as such are strong, nimble-footed and explosive. They are capable of creating tries from very little, based on overpowering attackers or snapping up loose ball. It may not always be on the based of the subtleties of rugby's fine framework, but the Americans stay in the game with speed, speed and more speed.
Weaknesses: The drawback of including former American Football players is that some are still learning about the game. Physically they are one of the most equipped sides in world rugby, but they are still catching up on the other nations due to a void in experience.
Who we will love: Takudzwa Ngwenya. How do you go from relative anonymity to being part of rugby folklore for the rest of your career? Sidestep and then outpace Bryan Habana to score one of the great tries of the 2007 World Cup. The try was just one part of his performances that have seen him become a regular at Biarritz.
Who will split opinion: Hayden Smith. The second row splits opinion based on whether or not he should be on the rugby field, but only because he's a dual athlete who has switched between the Premiership and the NFL. Smith played for Saracens before moving to the New York Jets, only to return to Sarries after an unsuccessful stint.
MVP: Chris Wyles has developed into a rugby player of fine pedigree after many years playing for Saracens. Able to play across the backline, he gives great direction to a side that is lacking in experience. His ability to read a game has him popping up in defence at the right time, which will keep the all-attacking Americans in every game they play.
Most likely to see red: One of the hardest hitters in world rugby, Samu Manoa. Not a dirty player by any stretch, but a bone-crunching tackler like Manoa only has to get it a little bit wrong for it to look bad.
Forwards: Danny Barrett, Chris Baumann, Cameron Dolan, Andrew Durutalo, Zach Fenoglio, Eric Fry, Olive Kilifi, Titi Lamositele, Scott LaValla, Al McFarland, Samu Manoa, Matekitonga Moeakiola, John Quill, Greg Peterson, Hayden Smith, Louis Stanfill, Joseph Taufete'e, Phil Thiel.
Backs: Seamus Kelly, Niku Kruger, AJ MacGinty, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Folau Niua, Thretton Palamo, Mike Petri, Blaine Scully, Andrew Suniula, Shalom Suniula, Zack Test, Brett Thompson, Chris Wyles.
1. South Africa
2. Scotland
3. Samoa
4. Japan
5. USA
