Rugby World Cup Preview
The Rugby World Cup heads to Japan, with the top international teams looking to claim the Webb Ellis Trophy. This spectacle is the biggest and most important time in the rugby calendar, with every team looking to peak at the end of World Cup cycle.
With the tier one nations looking to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
IRELAND
The number one ranked team in the world will look to claim their maiden World Cup trophy after reaching the quarter finals four years ago. In his final campaign with Ireland, Joe Schmidt will look to achieve the ultimate goal in international rugby after winning the Six Nations three times during his six year tenure.
Ireland have had a few surprise omissions from their World Cup squad with veteran Devin Toner missing out and South African born Jean Kleyn joining the team.
Ireland have also been struck with injuries to key players such as Robbie Henshaw. Henshaw is expected to miss the opening game against Scotland. The star centre suffered a hamstring injury but is not expected to be out for too long. Winger Keith Earls and replacement fly-half Joey Carbery also have small injuries but are expected to be fit.
Key Players:
Jonathan Sexton
The 2018 World Rugby’s Player of the Year, Sexton is integral to Ireland’s play with the offensice and defensive play running through the fly-half. Sexton’s goal kicking is vital as it allows Ireland to apply scoreboard pressure to their opponents. The leadership that the Leinster man provides is very important for his team.
Conor Murray
Sexton’s midfield partner Murray controls the game perfectly with his kicking game and the ability to vary the pace of his play. Murray’s high IQ and his game management provides a launch pad for Ireland’s attack.
Bundee Aki
The Samoan born centre’s role in this Ireland team has become more important with the injury to Robbie Henshaw and the other injuries in the back line. Aki provides Ireland’s back line with powerful, game-line breaking runs that propel Ireland’s attacking play.
NEW ZEALAND
The All Blacks have won three World Cups including the last two Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015. Their recent decline in form saw them lose to Australia, draw to South Africa in the Rugby Championship and consequently sees them ranked number two in the world. But despite this slight dip, New Zealand have shown flashes of being a tactically astute and clinical team; shown in their 92-7 victory over Tonga.
New Zealand will meet South Africa in the first game of the group stage; the winner will be showing their championship calibre.
The vast, valuable experience of World Cup winning players such as Sonny Bill Williams, Brodie Retallick and World Cup winning coach Steve Hansen sets the All Blacks up nicely in their quest to become the first team ever to win three consecutive World Cups.
Key Players:
Beauden Barrett
The former two-time World player of the year in 2016 and 2017 is the driving force behind New Zealand. His game management forms the basis allows the All Blacks to execute a clinical game plan that is all too familiar from years gone by.
Former New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has said that Barrett is the standout number ten in the world. “He can do freakish things that are beyond Johnny and Owen.”
Kieran Read
Read has amassed 122 caps for the All Blacks and is vital to the way they perform. Read, one of the best back rowers in the world, will captain New Zealand in Japan and his ability to create turnovers will enable his side to slow down the opposition.
Rieko Ioane
The big physical winger is the main talisman for the All Blacks. Ioane is a great finisher and will be looking to be on the end of expansive New Zealand attacking play thus being the one to watch out for in the crucial areas of the pitch.
ENGLAND
England come into the World Cup in a good run of form as they won three out of their four warm up games, which saw them rise to world number three.
England possess a strong side, but former England coach Clive Woodward believes that their discipline could halt their World Cup campaign. “This is what I call an X-factor team - but quite a few of the starting XV have got a track record of losing it in a game when under pressure.
“There's been a lot of focus on the rules regarding neck-high tackles. If you're playing France and Argentina, top teams, and get a guy sent off then the chance of winning that game is going to be very difficult.”
England will be looking to recapture the World Cup under Eddie Jones after their glory in 2003. The Australian masterminded Japan’s surprise victory over South Africa in 2015 and will look win it all with England.
Key Players:
Owen Farrell
The England captain is lauded for his offensive talent as well as his strong defensive capabilities. Farrell is seen as one of the best fly-halves in world rugby, but his flexibility and ability to play inside centre allows England to vary their back line and their style of play. Farrell’s supreme goal kicking ability allows England to apply scoreboard pressure.
Billy Vunipola
Billy Vunipola is a powerful runner whose barrages consistently breaks the gain line which allows England to set up their attacking moves. His running ability is especially effective when the number eight picks up the ball from the back of the scrum. His defensive capabilities cannot be understated; defensively he provides a tough line of defence in which he is very active during the breakdown.
Maro Itoje
The lock forward commands England’s lineout and set pieces creating a platform for England to attack from. Itoje also provides a powerful ball carrier as England aim to break the gain line. Itoje is key to England at the World Cup if they wish to repeat their feat 2003.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa impressively won this years rugby championship over New Zealand. They will look to go one better and re-emulate their world victories of 1995 and 2007.
Their campaign will start against New Zealand, with South Africa will looking to continue their progress. A victory in the opener would set them up nicely to progress and set them to win a third world cup.
South Africa will be looking to right the wrongs from the World Cup in England four years ago which saw them suffer a shock defeat to Japan during the group stages and consequently fail to reach expectations.
Key Players:
Handre Pollard
South Africa have been inconsistent at the fly-half position; if Pollard can be the answer to this inconsistency at the position then South Africa this will set them up for success. This is a key position as all of South Africa’s offensive sets depend on the position and thus Pollard needs to cement himself in the position.
When playing well Pollard controls the game, creating a platform for South Africa to work off of. The consistent play at fly-half has been at the centre of South Africa’s consistent rise through the world rankings.
Faf de Klerk
The Sale scrum-half had a fantastic season in the premiership, leading to his inclusion in the South Africa squad. De Klerk controls the pace of the game with his play around the ruck thus allowing South Africa to dictate where the game takes place. De Klerk is also great at sniping which makes him a dual threat and dangerous around the try line.
WALES
Japan 2019 will be Warren Gatland’s last tournament in charge of Wales. He aims to take his team one step further than the 2011 World Cup and reach the final.
The Grand Slam champions have been struck down by injury problems, the key injury coming to Gareth Anscombe, who sustained a knee injury in a World Cup warmup game against England.
The biggest setback to Wales’ campaign has come with attack coach Rob Howley being sent home. Former Wales fly-half will be joining the team in a senior coaching role, but this is less than ideal preparation.
Wales will have time iron out any problems before they face the tough competition in the form of Australia in the group stages.
Key Players:
Alun Wyn Jones
The British and Irish Lions lock will captain his country in a bid to be the first Welshmen to lead his country to the Webb Ellis Trophy. Jones is the focal point of Wales’ set pieces which provide a platform by which Wales can launch their attacks. He also leads the line with his ball carrying abilities, thus providing his team with good yardage of early phases. His leadership and experience is key to performance of Wales.
Hadleigh Parkes
The New Zealand born centre has become pivotal to Wales style of play. He is crucial in the way Wales attack, his ability to offload the ball in the challenge keeps the play alive. Parkes is also key defensively; his toughness and speed plays helps Wales utilise their infamous blitz defence; a defence that causes some many teams problems.
AUSTRALIA
The two time World Cup champions will once again be looking to reach the pinnacle of world rugby despite their poor form.
Michael Cheika will look to galvanise his team after their poor form in the Rugby Championship. They will have to recapture their form without the help of Israel Folau after he was dismissed earlier this year.
Key Players:
Michael Hooper
Hooper is a menace during the breakdown and has the ability to steal the ball back for Australia. This ability allows Australia to halt the opposition and provides more opportunity for Australia to gain forward momentum.
David Pocock
Pocock along with Hooper are one of the best back rows in the world. They complement each other with both being able to steal the ball away from the opposition. Pocock also provides valuable leadership to an Australian team looking for guidance after their recent poor form.
SCOTLAND
Scotland’s form coming into the 2019 World Cup has been shaky with a poor performance in the Six Nations. Their task in the World Cup has been made even harder by the omission of centre Hugh Jones who was left out of Gregor Townsend’s squad.
They will have a stern early test against Ireland, which will show whether Scotland are capable of being a serious contender.
The key for Scotland in the World Cup will be consistency; are they able to perform at a high level every game.
Key Players:
Stuart Hogg
Hogg is seen as one of the best fullbacks in the world and will need to consistently show his class. Hogg will need to show his counter-attacking abilities as well as his defensive capabilities. His performances will be key to the success of Scotland in the World Cup.
Finn Russell
Russell’s attacking flair is plain to see, however, his consistency has always been questioned. Russell can win Scotland games with his attacking style of play, yet has also seen to be inconsistent and careless which has hindered Scotland on the odd occasion. The key for Scotland will be if he could maintain his performance at a high level?
FRANCE
After a mixed Six Nations campaign, France will be looking for more consistent performances during the World Cup.
France will look to produce more dominant performances much like they did against Scotland in a World Cup warm-up match. They will need to produce these performances and hit the ground running as they have a tough group in which they face England and Argentina.
Key Players:
Romain Ntamack
The young fly-half will look to bring the creativity that he showed during the Six Nations. This creativity added extra vigour to the French team as well as increasing their attacking impetus. The key for France will be if they can use the youth of their team to their advantage.
Antoine Dupont
Much like Ntamack, the youthful energy of Dupont will serve France well. The scrum half provides a good attacking threat with the pace that he adds to the team. Dupont also controls the game well, he commands the set pieces and creates a platform in which France can work off.
Dupont has drawn praise from England international scrum-half, Ben Youngs. “Antoine Dupont, the French nine, is setting the bar for scrum-halves. He was fantastic in the French Top 14 Final for Toulouse.”
ARGENTINA
Argentina disappointed in the Rugby Championship as they failed to win a single game. They will be looking to better their result in 2015 but will face a difficult task as they face England and a resurgent France in the group stages.
Argentina aim to overpower their opponent with their hard running and hitting pack, who look to break the gain line with every carry.
Key Players:
Nicolas Sanchez
Sanchez’s skilful game has been known throughout his international career. His charismatic style of play brings flair to this Argentinian team. His slick handling and kicking game perfectly sets up their attack. For Argentina to progress Sanchez will have to pull the strings for Argentina.
ITALY
Italy are ranked are ranked fourteenth in the World and have never made the knockout stages of a World Cup. This World Cup will also pose a great challenge as they are in a tough group with New Zealand and South Africa. This uphill battle for Italy will provide a great test for their development.
Key Players:
Sergio Parisse
The number eight has been the key figure for Italy over the last decade and will once again be the vocal point for Italy. Parisse’s work rate around the ruck and in attacking the gain line provides Italy a base to execute their game plan. The only problem in Parisse’s tenure is that he has not been surrounded with a supporting cast, the key question for Italy is has that changed.
Tomasso Allen
The fly-half is key to Italy’s success; Italy will need to control the game in order to sustain attacks on their opponent’s defence. Allen will need to be the man for Italy if they are to control the game; he has shown glimpses of being a successful international fly-half, but he needs to be more consistent if he is going to help Italy to reach the knockout stages for the first time.
