GROUP A
Favourites: Australia
They face a tough opener against Argentina on Friday and a difficult closing game against Ireland. But expect the holders to progress, with captain George Gregan prompting matters from scrum-half, they should reach the last four. But that’s where the good news ends. Unimpressive against England in June, they struggled in the Tri-Nations and look some way short of New Zealand.
Captain: George Gregan, who was, ironically born in Zambia, the same place as South African captain Corne Krige. Probably the best scrum-half in the world, but don’t tell Matt Dawson.
Coach: Eddie Jones: Always faced a tough task taking over from Rod Macqueen, but he’s done a great job, working long hours. One of the great thinkers in world rugby, but don’t tell Clive Woodward!
Prediction: If they survive the big group games, they’ll beat Scotland or Fiji in the first Brisbane semi, then lose to old rivals New Zealand in the first semi-final.
Second: Ireland
They face a tough battle against Argentina for the runners-up spot, but they’ve looked solid in the warm-ups. Sure, England destroyed them in the Grand Slam decider in Dublin earlier this year but they’ve got Keith Wood back, which makes a big difference.
Third: Argentina
Two rousing home wins over France were followed by a narrow defeat in South Africa. Those are high standards for a side which finds itself constantly in the shadow of their footballers. Australia and Ireland can take nothing for granted against the Pumas, though the economic collapse in Argentina hasn’t helped their professional game. WATCH OUT FOR: The Bajada, the Argentine’s traditional eight-man forward charge.
Fourth:
Namibia: Blessed with a fair crop of the tough farmer-types we normally associated with South Africa, Namibia have a rich rugby history. In the past, as South West Africa, their best players went off to star for the Springboks. Independence has brought them a team of their own but a country which consists largely of two deserts, the Namib and the Kalahari, can’t expect to flourish with just 538 registered players. Watch out for: Rudi van Vuuren, the fly-half who also played in the Cricket World Cup earlier in the year.
Fifth:
Romania: There was a time, in the late 1980s, when the Romanians looked like they’d become the sixth force in European rugby, ahead of the Italians. Those days of army-trained semi-professionals are long gone. The modern day Romanians are unlikely to trouble the big guns. Remember the 134-0 defeat at Twickenham in 2001? WATCH OUT FOR: Coach Bernard Charryere, the 52-year-old Frenchman who has worked so hard to turn things around for Romania.