2007 Rugby World Cup - Full Preview
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The 2007 Rugby Union World Cup gets underway in just a week or so. It will be held all over France, with a couple of games held in Britain for some reason. 20 of the best nations in the world, (including the USA!) will take part.
Format
The 20 teams are split into 4 groups of 5. The top 2 from each group advance to the knockout stage.
I shall analyse each team, group by group.
Pool A
England
England are the defending champions from 2003. But since then, they have struggled. They are ranked 7 in the world, and have suffered through the retirements of a lot of their key players from the 2003 squad. Jonny Wilkinson is their talisman from fly-half, he was the best in the world in 2003, but has had to cope with several injuries since then.
England will generally have a strong set of forwards, using them to good effect. Their back line has stars like Josh Lewsey, Mark Cueto and Jason Robinson, but struggled to click against France.
South Africa
South Africa were in England's group in 2003, and were knocked out by New Zealand in the Quarter Finals. In the Tri Nations recently, they came third, but all matches were closely contested. They will fancy their chances of turning England over.
The Springboks have a strong pack, and a World Class Full Back in Percy Montgomery. Bryan Habana is possibly the fastest Winger in the world, so they have the ability to win games with their backs. They beat Scotland convincingly in a recent warm up game.
Samoa
Samoa were third in their 2003 pool, which again involved England. They tend to be the strongest of the Pacific Island nations along with Fiji, although they are well behind the powerhouses of England and South Africa in this group. The Samoans reached the Quarter Finals on two occasions in the 90s.
Several players play in international Leagues however, and Brian Lima is a famed forward. Lome Fa'atau is a strong winger, and could be crucial if they are to cause an upset.
United States
The States have been in all but one World Cup, but have been eliminated at the Pool Stage in every competition. They have lost ground on their natural rivals in Canada, but beat Uruguay strongly to qualify for the tournament.
Their success will depend on the performances of the States' only real stars, Paul Emerick plays in the Center for an English club, and Mike Hercus played in England until recently. He is America's captain, and arguably their best player.
Tonga
Another Pacific nation with rugby tradition. They have qualified for every tournament since 1995, but have never advanced to the knockout stages.
They have several quality players, namely Lesley Vainikolo, a former Rugby League player that has switched codes, and Nili Hatu is a strong influence in the pack. A lot of their squad plays in New Zealand.
Group Verdict
Pool B
Australia
The Aussies were second in 2003, losing in extra-time to England. They were second in the recent tri-nations, a marked improvement from poorer performances since the World Cup in 2003.
There are no weaknesses on paper for the Wallabies. George Gregan is at scrum-half again, for his fourth World Cup. David Lyons and Nathan Sharpe will be strong in the pack, and Lote Taquiri, Stephen Larkham and Sterling Mortlock have huge experience to draw on. The fitness of Chris Latham at Full Back is key. He is the best in that position in the world, and any Australian success will depend on him.
Wales
The Welsh have gone from being dominant in Europe to poor in a short space of time. They have reached the Quarter Finals in all of their World Cup appearances, losing to England in 2003. They finished third in 1987.
Dwayne Peel is a key at scrum half, as is Martyn Williams, possibly the best forward in the world, at flanker. James Hook and Stephen Jones are two excellent fly-half players, one will possibly move to centre to accomodate both of them in the team.
Fiji
Fiji nearly upset Scotland in 2003 to qualify for the Quarter Finals. Fiji are a mainstay of Rugby World Cups, and perennially narrowly miss out on reaching the Knockout Stages.
Their best player is Waisale Serevi, who is a famous Rugby Sevens player. The Fijians are one of the top Sevens' teams in the World, but have struggled to convert that into the 15 a side game.
Canada
Canada has a strong history in the Rugby World Cup, featuring in all of them since their inception. They made the 1991 Quarter Finals.
Now that Al Charron and Gareth Rees have retired, the Canadians need their younger blood to inspire them. They have some professionals playing in Europe, Kevin Tkachuk is a strong player for Edinburgh. Ed Fairhurst also plays for Cardiff. They will need to lead their amateurs if they are to be successful.
Japan
The Japanese are a developing nation in International rugby. They are Number 1 in Asia, and have pushed European sides close occasionally.
They have very few star players, and a lot of them remain amateur. They will struggle to win a match in this World Cup.
Group Verdict
Pool C
New Zealand
Scotland
Italy
Romania
Portugal
New Zealand
The All Blacks were the first World Cup winners in 1987. They lost in the 2003 Semi Finals to Australia, when many fancied them to challenge England for the title. Since 2003, they have become the undisputed World Number 1, beating every other side in the world with regularity and ease.
Their fly-half, Daniel Carter, is probably the best player in the world. He is a perfect kicker, and has incredible pace and tackling abilities. He will spearhead a team with excellent players throughout. Joe Rokocoko is an excellent player on the left wing too, and is probably the best winger in the world.
Scotland
Scotland lost in the Quarter Final in 2003, but have since fallen to Number 10 in the World Rankings, the lowest in their history.
They do have some good players however, Mike Blair is a good scrum-half, and they have experience in Scott Murray in the pack. Aliaster Hogg is excellent at Number 8, too. Their most exciting layers are the Lamont brothers on each Wing, and Chris Paterson can play anywhere in the backs. He is the most improved kicker in world rugby. Jason White is their best player, and captains the side well from the back row.
Italy
Italy have never advanced beyond the group stage at a World Cup, but since they joined the Six Nations in 2000, their play has improved such that Italy are ranked ahead of them.
They have a good captain in Marco Bortolami, and the Bergamasco brothers are excellent players too. Alessandro Troncon is in his last World Cup at scrum half, having inspired a recent upturn in Italian play.
Romania
Under Communism in the early 1980s, Romania were arguably one of the top sides in the world, often beating British opposition, and coming close against the Southern Hemisphere teams. But they were never encorporated into the Six Nations as Italy were, and since then, their game has never recovered. That said, they have appeared in every World Cup since 1987. They are ranked #7 in Europe.
Romania have several France-based players, and are good against fellow second-tier teams. They ought to be thumped by the All Blacks, however.
Portugal
Portugal are appearing in their first World Cup, having performed well in the second-tier European Nations Cup, a competition for teams not in the Six Nations. Portugal won it for the first time in 2006, beating Romania and Georgia for the title.
They have the odd player of quality, Vasco Uva is a decent Number 8. Although that is all the real quality that they have, currently.
Group Verdict
- New Zealand
- Italy
- Scotland
- Romania
- Portugal
Pool D
France
France are the leading European nation in the World Rankings. They made the Semi Finals in the 2003 event, losing to England. The French are perennially a very flary team, and have great depth in their squad. They are the hosts in 2007.
France have veterans Fabien Pelous at Lock as well as Serge Betsen in the Back Row, and 35 year old Christopher Dominici on the Wing. The French have problems in the half-backs, with their scrum-half and fly-half positions unsure. Ellisalde and Michelak appear to have been replaced by the Mingoni and Skrela combination, although the latter two are perhaps the more solid options.
Ireland
The Irish were Quarter Finalists, narrowly beating Argentina to qualify in 2003 for the Knockout stage. They are much improved, and will look to go further this time.
The Irish could miss Brian O'Driscoll, the best centre in World Rugby. He is at the heart of a star-studded back line, that can open up any game given the opportunity. Ronan O'Gara is one of the best goalkickers in the world.
Argentina
Argentina are like Romania in the 1980s. They have beaten France, England and Ireland on occasion since 2003, but still they are unprofessional at home due to their geographical distance from the Tri and Six Nations. They reached the Quarter Finals in 1999, and are consistantly drawn in Ireland's group it seems, they beat the Irish in 1999 to make the Quarters but were on the other end in 2003. They come together again in 2007. They are ranked #5 in the world.
The Argentines have a vast amount of players in global Leagues. The Contemponi brothers are strong in the backline. Agustin Pichot is a reliable kicker. Otherwise they are lacking household names, but are dominant in the Americas, and a force to be reckoned with. The Argentine forwards are traditionally the best scrummagers in the world.
Georgia
Georgia have been a useful side in the second-tier European Nations Cup, and have qualified for the World Cup once before, in 2003.
Georgia have some players in French rugby, mainly, the front row is particularly strong and is at the front of a great pack of forwards.
Namibia
Namibia qualified in 2003, but lost 142-0 to Australia. This is their second appearance. They have had mixed success recently, conceding more than 100 points against South Africa, and losing to minnows Uganda.
They have no real star players, and will have to rely on teamwork to save face in this competition. Their most famous player is Ronnie van Vuuren, who is the only person ever to appear in both the cricket and rugby World Cups.
Group Verdict
Knockout Stage Predictions
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 Australia
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 England
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| England
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 New Zealand
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| New Zealand
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 Argentina
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| New Zealand
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 France
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 South Africa
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 Wales
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| France
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| France
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 Italy
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Top 4:
General
Pool D is undoubtedly the "Pool of Death". Three of the top 5 in the world are in it. Furthermore, the Quarter Finalists automatically qualify for 2011, so the aim will be to get in the top 2 in the pool. The problem is Argentina's draw, if they were in Pool C they would probably make it. The rest will have to qualify for 2011, which is no problem for Argentina, but it would be nice to see them advance.
Some pool games will be horrible to watch. There will be blowouts between Australia and Japan, New Zealand and Portugal etc. but it is seen as being key in their development. There is a greater depth to the global game now however, with the third seeded teams in each group in with a genuine chance to advancing to the Knockout stage.
But New Zealand should win this tournament, they are easily Number 1. France will either be excellent, or poor. If they are poor v Ireland or Argentina, they could get an early bath.
