Russia, Ireland, Scotland, Samoa and japan confront with the two sides that are highest-ranked, in Pool A – Scotland and Ireland – confronting each other.
Four decades back, Japan shocked the French world by beating South Africa in England. Rugby’s showpiece will be hosted by them and look to earn a this month.
Below we take a look at each nation’s 31-man squad, decide on a key participant to focus on, undergo current form and bring you all the pool fixtures…
Head coach: Joe Schmidt
Captain: Rory Best (120 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Quarter-finals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015)
Key participant: James Ryan. Even the row has developed into the performer in the Ireland squad. His job in the in ruck and loose time is crucial both to defensive sets and Ireland’s attacking stage play. With Devin Toner Ryan will even have to step up more in the lineout.
Present form since the No 1 rated side in the entire world for the very first time in 36, despite enduring a far tougher 2019 compared to 2018, Ireland head into the World Cup. Last year saw them conquer all as they conquer against the All Blacks in Dublin and gained string victory in Australia, a Six Nations Grand Slam. This year, they’ve endured heavy beats to Wales and England (double ), using their overall form and optimism rocked. Their final pre-World Cup win over Wales in Dublin was remarkable though and will provide them a pep in their step going to Japan.
World Cup group:
Forwards (17): Rory Best (c), Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne, Iain Henderson, Jean Kleyn Peter O’Mahony Andrew Porter, Rhys Ruddock, James Ryan, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier.
Backs (14): Bundee Aki, Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Robbie Henshaw, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Luke McGrath, Conor Murray, Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Sexton, Jacob Stockdale.
Fixtures:
Head trainer: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Stuart McInally (29 Tests)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Semi-finals (1991)
Key player: Finn Russell. Scotland really are a side and hard to contain, when Russell is really on form. His speed, passing ability off either propensity and hand to step through the line make him a fantastic assaulting threat. The sort of maverick gift that he is means when he’s away from his game, thus also are Scotland.
Present form: A bit like Ireland, Scotland will return on 2018 more lovingly than 2019. In the formerthey beat England, France, Argentina (home and away) and Fiji, while also providing the Springboks a fantastic go. While drawing in the jaws of a victory at Twickenham with England to Wales, France and Ireland, they’ve dropped in 2019. With a loss in France, matters couldn’t have started worse From the warm-ups, but they recovered to beat France off and in the home and Georgia home. All in all is a mixed bag.
31-man World Cup squad:
Forwards (17): John Barclay, Simon Berghan, Fraser Brown, Scott Cummings, Allan Dell, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Stuart McInally (c), WP Nel, Gordon Reid, Jamie Ritchie, Blade Thomson, Ben Toolis, George Turner, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson.
Backs (14): Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Adam Hastings, Stuart Hogg, George Horne, Peter Horne, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Maitland, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour, Duncan Taylor.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Jamie Joseph
Captain: Michael Leitch (62 caps)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Key player: Michael Leitch. Not merely their skipper, Leitch is the best player of Japan, with general work superb, breakdown skills and his match. Hewas fundamental in the decision making four years ago to dismiss the prospect of a draw to get a shot at beating against the Boks, and’s a leader with this squad – the upset the game has ever noticed.
Current form: In truth, the form over the last few years past Tier 1 resistance of Japan doesn’t make for great reading. Bar 1 victory over Italy at Oita in 2018, they have been soundly beaten by New Zealand, England and South Africa – however there’s not any shame in defeat perhaps the three World Cup favourites – while having lost in another Test against Italy. They have defeated Fiji, Tonga, Georgia, Russia and Italy. Will they shock Scotland and Ireland?
31-man World Cup squad:
Forwards (18): Michael Leitch (c), Keita Inagaki, Yusuke Kizu, Jiwon Koo, Isileli Nakajima, Asaeli Valu, Takuya Kitade, Atsushi Sakate, Shota Horie, Luke Thompson, Wimpie van der Walt, Uwe Helu, James Moore, Hendrik Tui, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno, Amanaki Mafi.
Backs (13): Kaito Shigeno, Fumiaki Tanaka, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Rikiya Matsuda, Kenki Fukuoka, Ataata Moeakiola, Lomano Lemeki, William Tupou, Ryoto Nakamura, Timothy Lafaele, Kotaro Matsushima, Ryohei Yamanaka.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Steve Jackson
Captain: Chris Vui (14 caps)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Quarter-finals (1991, 1995)
Key player: Chris Vui. You need to listen to Pat Lam and Eddie Jones speak to understand. Indeed, the term’world class’ has been utilized. Power and hands, he’s a player.
Form: Not so good. Over the previous two decades, the only nations they’ve beaten are Spain Germany and Tonga. They have lost to Fiji (twice), Tonga, Georgia, the USA (double ) and Australia. But with most of their players in now, they could come alive with this World Cup.
31-man World Cup group:
Forwards (17): Afaesetiti Amosa, TJ Ioane, Jack Lam, Piula Fa’asalele, Josh Tyrell, Chris Vui (c), Teofilo Paulo, Kane Leaupepe, Senio Toleafoa, Michael Alaalatoa, Paul Alo-Emile, James Lay, Jordan Lay, Logovi’i Mulipola, Motu Matu’u, Ray Niuia, Seilala Lam.
Backs (14): Ed Fidow, Tim Nanai-Williams, Ahsee Tuala, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Henry Taefu, Alapati Leiua, Reynold Lee-Lo, Kieron Fonotia, AJ Atatimu, Tusi Pisi, Ulupano Seuteni, Dwayne Polotaivao, Melani Matavao, Scott Malolua.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Lyn Jones
Captain: Vasily Artemyev (88 caps)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Pool point (2011)
Key participant: Andrei Ostrikov. The lock is one of only two Russia players to ply their trade outside of the nation, and has experience of performing for Sale Sharks in England and Agen in France where he showcased between 2011 and 2019. He has signed for the coming year for Top 14 club Grenoble.
Form: This month’s showpiece will be Russia’s second World Cup involvement, having previously featured without victory, failing to qualify in 2015. Their form lost to the likes of Jersey Reds and Connacht, and is rather abysmal, having sent 85 points to Italy in the build-up. They start the championship against Japan on Friday.
World Cup group:
Forwards (18): Azamat Bitiev, Andrey Garbuzov, Kirill Gotovtsev, Victor Gresev, Bogdan Fedotko, Vitaliy Zhivatov, Evgeny Matveev, Andrey Polivalov, Vladimir Podrezov, Evgeny Yelgin, Stanislav Selsky, Nikita Vavilin, Sergey Chernyshev, Tagir Gadzhiev, Roman Khodin, Andrei Ostrikov, Valery Morozov, Anton Sychev.
Backs (13): Vasily Artemyev (c), Igor Galinovsky, Kirill Golosnitsky, Vasily Dorofeev, Yuri Kushnarev, German Davydov, Dmitry Perov, Vladislav Sozonov, Dmitry Gerasimov, Ramil Gaysin, Denis Simplikevich, Vladimir Ostroushko, Sergey Yanyushkin.
Fixtures:
Read more here: http://softballedge.com/?p=32245
