Pools

There are two front-runners in this group: England, current world champions, and South Africa, 1995 trophy winners. These two teams will battle it out at the Stade de France on 14 September - odds tend to favour the ‘Boks, who easily got the best of the Englishmen on 3 June 2007 (55-22).

 

Far from peak form, the Brits have not been up to their past performances. In fact, it seems that the champion status of this team - coached by Brian Ashton, who took over for Andy Robinson in 2006, who himself had replaced Clive Woodward after the World Cup - hasn’t quite registered. Since their Australian exploit, the English Rose have been accumulating feeble performances, like in the Six Nations championships where they placed a lame third (3 wins, 2 losses). But England are never as compelling as when they been prematurely left for dead. In a single match, Jonny Wilkinson and his team-mates could turn the whole thing around.

 

The South Africans remain serious outsiders, if their latest performances – particularly against the All Blacks – are anything to go by. The Springboks will rely, as usual, on their athletic qualities and solid pack. But they will also be able to count on their individuality and on seasoned players, such as Victor Matfield or Pierce Montgomery, in their attempt to land a second world title.

 

In any case, the pool’s two favourites are going to have to deal with some solid adversaries - beginning with two veteran teams from Oceania: Samoa and Tonga. Both are old hats when it comes to tournament finals; the Samoan warriors, famous for their physical strength, come to France for their fifth consecutive World Cup - they made it to quarter-finals in 1991 (they lost to Scotland) and in 1995 (they lost to South Africa). The Tongans are also competing in their fifth World Cup; the Sea Eagles will undoubtedly be doing everything in their power to push their way into the quarter-finals for the first time.

 

Finally, the Americans, also participating in their fifth playoffs, will do their best to make good in a sport that has traditionally had a relatively closed club of supporters stateside. The Eagles’ first battle is scheduled for 8 September in Lens, against England.

 

It’s the same scenario at every World Cup: New Zealand are the intimidators. The All Blacks are stronger, faster, cleverer... in short, they’re better players than everybody else. Group favourites by a long shot, the 1987 World Champs are still chasing after a new trophy  (3^rd place in 1991, finalists in 1995, 4^th in 1999, 3^rd in 2003). The New Zealanders are impressive: the French Tricolores, thrashed in autumn 2006 (47-3) and lashed in June 2007(61-10), can attest to that. As a member of a group that ought to be easy to dominate, the Blacks should prevail, unless their superiority complex - their main weakness - resurfaces. And of course, there is nothing their foes would rather do than trounce New Zealand during a memorable World Cup match...

 

Italy and Scotland are likely to vie for second place. Italy have a better chance - the Azzurri, coached by Frenchman Pierre Berbizier, have the psychological edge since they defeated the Scots in Edinburgh (37-17) during the Six Nations Tournament. Greatly improved over the past two seasons, Italy will be trying to prove their worth by making the finals for the first time. Scotland, however will have the advantage of being on home turf, since they’ll be playing three of their matches at Murrayfield. Quarter-finalists during the three precedent World Cups, Scotland will do everything in their power to win.

 

Romania are old World Cup veterans, since they’ve taken part in all of its contests. The Oaks, led by head coach Daniel Santamans, a Frenchman, certainly can’t bank on victory. But they hope to surprise their opponents, since many Oaks players have signed with French teams and are familiar with the lay of the land.

 

Finally, there’s Portugal, this World Cup’s bolt from the blue; they are joining the tournament for the first time. The Wolves managed to qualify in March 2007 by beating Uruguay in the Repechage series. With much to learn from this new experience, Portugal can count on the sizeable Portuguese community living in France to root for them.