Pool B will Begin with a bang as heavyweights New Zealand and South Africa Battle on Saturday September, 21.
It’s a pool which also contains Canada, Namibia and Italy along with the question is whether any of them can pull off a major shock and rock that the Springboks or even the All Blacks? It seems impossible, but recall Japan four decades back?
Here we take a peek at each state’s 31-man squad, decide on a key participant to concentrate upon, go through present form and provide all of the pool’s fittings…
Head coach: Steve Hansen
Captain: Kieran Read (121 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Rugby World Cup winners (1987, 2011, 2015)
Key player: Beauden Barrett. The guy pulling the strings for the champions. The spotlight is going to be on his own goal-kicking, especially when it moves into the latter phases of the tournament, but across the playground he’s expected to shine and then take his game to the level that is world it often reaches.
Form: maybe not ideal in the All Black outlook. Since winning the championship in 2015, New Zealand have failed to triumph in eight Exams – a highly unusual figure in their opinion. They finished second in the decreased 2019 Rugby Championship, having attracted with South Africa and lost to Australia, although they have also dropped to Ireland (twice), the Lions (and drew another Test), Australia (twice) and South Africa as the final World Cup. However, who wouldn’t bet on them to lift a third successive crown?
World Cup group:
Forwards (17): Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Codie Taylor, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Matt Todd.
Backs (14): TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Ben Smith.
Fixtures:
Head trainer: Rassie Erasmus
Captain: Siya Kolisi (42 caps)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Rugby World Cup winners (1995, 2007)
Key player: Faf de Klerk. The pocket rocket who sets their pace and induces resistance defences a variety of issues to consider. The 27-year-old has blossomed over the last few seasons and unites a solid fighting game with vision and also the confidence to’move’ as it is on.
Current form that the Boks are the favorites heading right into this World Cup. In their floundering form under Allister Coetzee in 2016 and 2017, 2018 and 2019 has proven a period for South Africa, because they’ve defeated Scotland, France, England, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Their opening game against the All Blacks, along with a potential route to top avoiding New Zealand and the pool before the closing puts them.
World Cup group:
Forwards (17): Schalk Brits, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (c), Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen.
Backs (14): Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Warrick Gelant, Elton Jantjies, Herschel Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Willie le Roux, Frans Steyn.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Conor O’Shea
Captain: Sergio Parisse (140 caps)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Key player: Sergio Parisse. Italy talisman would be taking to the area at a record-equalling fifth Rugby World Cup in Japan and he uttered the word’determination’. The No 8 will work himself to the ground in what’s highly likely to be his last World Cup competition for the Azzurri and features an engine to mix it.
Form: northern hemisphere rugby’s lasting conundrum. Results for its team have largely stayed the same since Conor O’Shea arrived while the performances of Zebre and club sides Benetton has drastically improved. Even the Azzurri’s only victories over the previous two decades have come against Russia, Japan (that they dropped in another Test) and also Georgia. One has to go back into November 2016 for the last time a Tier 1 nation is beaten by Italy.
31-man World Cup squad:
Forwards (18): Luca Bigi, Dean Budd, Oliviero Fabiani, Simone Ferrari, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti, Maxime Mbanda, Sebastian Negri, Sergio Parisse (c), Tiziano Pasquali, Jake Polledri, Nicola Quaglio, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, David Sisi, Abraham Steyn, Federico Zani, Alessandro Zanni.
Backs (13): Tommaso Allan, Mattia Bellini, Tommaso Benvenuti, Giulio Bisegni, Callum Braley, Michele Campagnaro, Carlo Canna, Jayden Hayward, Matteo Minozzi, Luca Morisi, Edoardo Padovani, Guglielmo Palazzani, Tito Tebaldi.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Phil Davies
Captain: Johan Deysel (24 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Pool stage (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Key player: Eugene Jantjies. The first looked in a World Cup back in 2007 and is the sole member with that championship. Four players remain Rohan Kitshoff who showcased in the 2011 World Cup: Darryl de la Harpe and PJ van Lill. This experienced spine of their squad will be crucial in trying to attain a win.
Present form seeking their very first Rugby World Cup victory, Namibia will find it tough going to get a W within this pool. They did beat Uruguay from the build-up to the World Cup, but lost to Russia – whose own results have been very poor.
World Cup squad:
Forwards (18): Andre Rademeyer, Nelius Theron, Desiderius Sethie, AJ de Klerk, Johannes Coetzee, Obert Nortje, Louis van der Westhuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Tjiuee Uanivi, Johan Retief, Thomasau Forbes, Rohan Kitshoff, Max Katjijeko, Prince Gaoseb, Wian Conradie, PJ van Lill, Adriaan Booysen, Janco Venter.
Backs (13): Cliven Loubser, Helarius Kisting, Damian Stevens, Eugene Jantjies, Darryl de la Harpe, Johan Deysel (c), Justin Newman, JC Greyling, Johann Tromp, Chad Plato, Lesley Klim, Janry du Toit, PJ Walters.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Kingsley Jones
Captain: Tyler Ardron (33 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Quarter-finals (1991)
Key participant: DTH van der Merwe. Keep a look out for your hot-stepping winger who’s making his appearance at a Rugby World Cup. Then he’ll take a mile with his excellent footwork Should you provide him an inch and that he has the pace to match also. Van der Merwe has a hit-rate of 38 tries in 57 Tests.
Form: Pretty poor. Indeed, their buildup to the World Cup has seen a series of defeats that will have led to the squad considerable discomfort. The summer has seen them drop to the USA (double ), Fiji and Tonga, while additional defeats came against Uruguay and Brazil earlier in the year. They’ve won seven World Cup games but may add to this total within this pool.
World Cup squad:
Forwards (17): Tyler Ardron (c), Kyle Baillie, Justin Blanchet, Hubert Buydens, Luke Campbell, Matt Heaton, Eric Howard, Jake Ilnicki, Cole Keith, Conor Keys, Evan Olmstead, Benoit Piffero, Andrew Quattrin, Lucas Rumball, Djustice Sears-Duru, Mike Sheppard, Matthew Tierney
Backs (14): Nick Blevins, Andrew Coe, Jeff Hassler, Ciaran Hearn, Ben LeSage, Phil Mack, Jamie Mackenzie, Gordon McRorie, Peter Nelson, Shane O’Leary, Patrick Parfrey, Taylor Paris, Conor Trainor, DTH van der Merwe.
Fixtures:
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