Pool B preview: South Africa, Scotland, USA, Samoa, Japan
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Updated 15/09/2015 at 08:59 GMT
With the World Cup starting on Friday, Kevin Coulson runs the rule over the teams in Pool B.
South Africa's winger Bryan Habana (C) stands with team mates during a team training session at Eastbourne College in Eastbourne, southern England on September 14, 2015,
Image credit: AFP
SOUTH AFRICA
Not as bullet-proof as they have been in past tournaments, as shown by their home defeat at the hands of Argentina in the Rugby Championship this year and November losses to Wales and Ireland. The build-up has also been marred by rows over quotas for non-white players in the squad but they have a straightforward group in which to generate momentum. You can never write them off.
Coach: Heyneke Meyer
Captain: Jean de Villiers
World ranking: 3
World Cup best: Winners, 1995, 2007
Strength: Huge experience in the form of Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield and Schalk Berger.
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South Africa's Victor Matfield wins the line out against Ireland during their international test match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin November 8, 2014. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton
Image credit: Eurosport
Weakness: Injuries – a string of them to players such as Francois Steyn, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux and Pieter-Steph du Toit in Super Rugby – have seen a lack of cohesion and consistency in performance.
Odds: 9/2
Try this trivia: After scoring for the Springboks in 2004, Victor Matfield had to wait 57 Tests before scoring for the Boks again in 2009.
SCOTLAND
Coach: Vern Cotter
Captain: Greig Laidlaw
World ranking: 10
World Cup best: 4th, 1991
They had a dire Six Nations but came close to beating France in Paris in their final warm-up match so will be encouraged by that. Still lacking truly world-class players, though Stuart Hogg is electric at full-back. Should get through the group but much more will probably be beyond them.
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Stuart Hogg
Image credit: Reuters
Strengths: Pacy back-line
Weakness: Creaky defence
Odds: 150/1
Try this trivia: Scotland beat England in the first ever rugby match in 1871. They won 1-0 – when only converted tries counted as a point.
USA
They had a poor Pacific Nations Cup campaign where they were beaten by Japan. That will be the game they will hope to win in this tournament but, despite seeming to be a growing force in the game a few years back, they haven’t pushed on. Saracens’ Chris Wyles is their star man but they will almost certainly not top their best return of one win in a World Cup this time around.
Coach: Mike Tolkin
Captain: Chris Wyles
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Chris Wyles takes on Australia
Image credit: Eurosport
World ranking: 15
World Cup best: First round, one win, 1987, 2003, 2011
Strengths: Several players with Premiership experience.
Weakness: Brittle scrum.
Odds: 1000/1
Fact: Chris Wyles, who has English parents, grew up in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, where George Ford and Owen Farrell also went to school.
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SAMOA
Scotland’s chief rivals for the second spot in the group. They have previously reached the last eight and can be a match for any side. However, their lack of preparation time could prove their undoing – they simply do not have the opportunities for their first XV to feature so they can build an understanding.
Coach: Stephen Betham
Captain: Ofisa Treviranus
World ranking: 12
World Cup best: Quarter-final, 1991, 1995
Strength: Backs featuring three Northampton Saints - Kahn Fotuali’I and George and Ken Pisi.
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Ken Pisi takes on the Barbarians
Image credit: Reuters
Weakness: Discipline.
Odds: 150/1
Try this trivia: Alesana and Sanele Vavae Tuilagi are brothers of England’s Manu Tuilagi. The Leicester Tiger, who is banned by England for the tournament, qualifies to play through residency.
JAPAN
The hosts of the 2019 World Cup will want to lay down a marker here, or at least show their fans at home that they can prosper at their own tournament. An increasingly prominent domestic league is attracting some big names - James Haskell and Schalk Burger have both played there - and that can only help improve the standards and increase interest. Past performances do not augur well for this tournament though.
Coach: Eddie Jones
Captain: Michael Leitch
World ranking: 13
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Japan coach Eddie Jones
Image credit: Reuters
World Cup best: First round, third in pool, 1991
Strength: Eddie Jones - the former Australia chief has extensive knowledge of world rugby, having coached all over the globe.
Weakness: Lightweight pack.
Odds: 1500/1
Try this trivia: Japan have played at every World Cup, but only registered one win – their 52-8 victory over Zimbabwe in 1991.
All odds courtesy of Coral.
GARETH THOMAS SAYS
You can't see past South Africa. They're going to top the group. Scotland are more than capable. Under Vern Cotter they're starting to progress, and starting to play rugby. In the warm-up games they've been starting to open up more and score some tries, something they've had difficulty with for years. For me, when it comes down to the quarter-finals and semi-finals, I really want to see a mix of northern and southern hemisphere teams. I think we're catching up, that the balance of power isn't all with the southern hemisphere sides any more. So I'd love to believe that Scotland will be a part of that and go through - and I think they will.
Gareth Thomas will be writing exclusive columns for Eurosport throughout the 2015 Rugby World Cup
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