Japan, Ireland, Scotland, Samoa and Russia face off together with the two sides that are highest-ranked, in Pool A – Scotland and Ireland – facing each other.
Four decades ago, Japan shocked the world by defeating South Africa in England. This monththey will sponsor rugby’s showpiece and look to produce a first quarter-final.
Below we have a look at each nation’s 31-man squad, choose an integral player to focus on, go through present form and provide 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 player: James Ryan. Even the row has grown into the most important and constant performer in the Ireland squad. His job in the at ruck and loose time is critical to defensive sets and Ireland’s attacking phase drama. Together with Devin Toner omitted in the squad, Ryan will have to measure in the lineout.
Present form even though enduring a far tougher 2019 than 2018, Ireland head into the World Cup as the No 1 ranked side in the world for the very first time in history. Last year saw them conquer at all before them as they conquer the All Blacks and won string victory in Australia, a Six Nations Grand Slam. This season, they have suffered heavy defeats to Wales and England (double ), with their overall form and confidence rocked. Their final Cup triumph over Wales in Dublin will provide them a pep in their step going to Japan and was remarkable though.
31-man 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 coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Stuart McInally (29 Tests)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Semi-finals (1991)
Key player: Finn Russell. Scotland hard to include and are a dangerous side when Russell is online shape. His speed, passing ability off hand and propensity to measure the line make him a fantastic assaulting danger. The form of maverick talent which he is means when he’s away from his game, so also are Scotland.
Current form: A bit like Ireland, Scotland will look back to 2018 more fondly than 2019. In the former, they beat England, France, Argentina (home and away) and Fiji, while also giving the Springboks a fantastic go. In 2019, they have lost to Ireland, France and Wales, while drawing in the jaws of a 38-38 victory at Twickenham. From the warm-ups, things couldn’t have started worse using a reduction in France, but they recovered to beat France at Georgia and home home and away. All in all, their form is really a mixed bag.
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 participant: Michael Leitch. Not just their skipper, Leitch is the best player of Japan, together with breakdown abilities his game and general work ethic excellent. He’s a key leader for this particular squad, and has been central in the decision making to discount the prospect of a draw for a shot at beating the Boks – that the upset the sport has ever noticed.
Current form: Actually, the form over the past couple of years against Tier 1 opposition of Japan doesn’t make for great reading. Bar one victory over Italy at Oita in 2018, they have been soundly beaten by New Zealand, England and South Africa – though there is no shame in defeat perhaps the three World Cup favourites – although having dropped in a different Test. They have defeated Georgia, Tonga, Fiji, Russia and Italy. Can Scotland and Ireland jolt?
World Cup group:
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)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Quarter-finals (1991, 1995)
Key player: Chris Vui. You need to listen to Pat Lam and Eddie Jones talk about Vui to understand. Indeed, the phrase’world class’ has been utilized. Hands and power, he is a superb player.
Form: Not good. Over the last two decades are Spain, Germany and Tonga. They’ve lost to Fiji (double ), Tonga, Georgia, the USA (twice) and Australia. However, with the majority of the players in today, they might come with this World Cup.
31-man World Cup squad:
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 trainer: Lyn Jones
Captain: Vasily Artemyev (88 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Pool stage (2011)
Key player: Andrei Ostrikov. The lock has experience of performing for Agen in France and Sale Sharks in England in which he showcased between 2011 and 2019, and is just one of only two Russia players to ply their trade out of the country. He’s signed for the coming year for Top 14 club Grenoble.
Current form: Last month’s showpiece will only be Russia’s second World Cup participation, having previously featured without victory in 2011, failing to qualify in 2015. Their kind is abysmal, having shipped 85 points and lost to the likes of Connacht along with Jersey Reds. They start the tournament from Japan on Friday.
31-man World Cup squad:
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
