The Rugby World Cup Team-by-Team Guide: Pool B

Next up in our 2015 Rugby World Cup guide is Pool B, a pool that has one clear favourite – South Africa – along with Scotland and Samoa, who will scrap it out for the other qualification spot, and two up-and-comers in the shape of Japan and USA.

JAPAN
World Ranking: 13

Strengths
They’ve got some absolute flyers in the backs, as well as key figures like Mitch Leitch, Shota Horie and Fumiaki Tanaka who have plenty of top end experience in Super Rugby. They will also bring plenty of confidence into the tournament having won their last three fixtures, albeit against Georgia and Uruguay (x2). Head coach Eddie Jones also knows his way around a World Cup.

Weaknesses
While the scrum has been shored up by the shipping in of French coach Marc Dal Maso, the lineout remains a real issue as they simply lack quality options at lock. They are a team that are not afraid to throw the ball around, but in a pool that also contains Samoa and the new-era Scotland, that style could come back to haunt them.

Key player: Mitch Leitch
Captain and one of their most experienced players, Mitch Leitch will be familiar to any regular watchers of Super Rugby as one third of a Chiefs back-row that has known plenty of success over the past few years. Comfortable at either six or eight, he’s a strong carrier with a nose for the try-line.

Unexpected genius: Yoshikazu Fujita
The 21-year old winger has an astonishing strike rate in the national side – 25 tries in 26 games, including scores against Wales, Samoa and the USA (two of whom are in this pool, you will note). Give him the ball in space and he will be lethal.

Do say: “Did you know that Japan are one of the oldest rugby playing nations in the world? They first formed a team in 1874…”

Prediction: Group stage

SAMOA
World Ranking: 12th

Strengths
Any team that can overlook the likes of Sinoti Sinoti can clearly boast considerable firepower in the wide channels, and indeed this is where Samoa will likely cause the most havoc. Alesana Tuilagi can still treat defenders like speed-bumps when the mood takes him, while their pack is more organised and better-drilled than their Pacific Island counterparts Fiji and Tonga.

Weaknesses
Game management has long been a problem, with Samoan half-backs typically far from the most reliable. Kahn Fotuali’i is a sublime player going forwards, but there are question marks around other parts of his game, while first choice fly-half Tusi Pisi is not going to frighten too many defences. With a decent pack and strong outside backs, it is their one real area of weakness.

Key player: Jack Lam
The ex-Hurricane and current Bristol player is one that could really make a name for himself this tournament. An abrasive flanker with a huge work-rate, he is as capable of going on a barnstorming 60 metre run, as he is pinching your ball at the breakdown.

Unexpected genius: Tim Nanai-Williams
The Waikato Chief has been scoring some of the most sensational tries in Super Rugby for some years now, and with devilishly quick feet and pace to burn he is a real livewire no matter where he plays. Having switched allegiance from New Zealand to Samoa using the Olympic 7s loophole, he adds a dash of flair to Samoa’s undoubted power.

Do say: “With the physical specimens they have at their disposal, Samoa could be one of the best teams in the world if they had a better rugby infrastructure.”
Don’t say: “I thought Tuilagi played for England?!”

Prediction: Group stage

SCOTLAND
World Ranking: 10th

Strengths
They’ve such strength in depth in the back-row that they can leave out the likes of John Barclay and Kelly Brown, while in Stuart Hogg they have one of the best counter-attackers in the world from fullback. In fact, Scotland have a generation of backs (Russell, Scott, Bennett, Seymour) that are infinitely more exciting than any we have seen for quite some time.

Weaknesses
Scotland are one of a handful of nations whose captain is not necessarily the best option in his position. Greig Laidlaw is a calming presence and excellent goal-kicker at scrum-half, but the team looks so much more dangerous when either Hidalgo-Clyne or Pyrgos is playing. Their front five might have been bolstered by the recently-qualified tighthead WP Nel, but the set-piece is still a worry.

Key player: Finn Russell
The Glasgow Warrior has finally solved the fly-half debate that has been a problem for Scotland for too many years. His distribution is slick and while he is not the quickest, his composure and bravery when taking the ball to the line makes him a real threat to defences.

Unexpected genius: Josh Strauss
The South African-born Strauss doesn’t qualify for Scotland until after the tournament has begun, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a significant impact on it for them. He has captained Glasgow to success in the past couple of seasons, and is a seasoned warrior in the back-row.

Do say: “Jonny Gray looks to be converting his potential into performances – he’s going to be better than his brother Richie.”
Don’t say: “That Maitland chap doesn’t sound very Scottish…”

Prediction: Quarter-finalists

SOUTH AFRICA
World Ranking: 3rd

Strengths
They have quality back-row players coming out of their ears, and with Duane Vermeulen returning to full fitness they have potentially the best number eight in the world. They have a core of experience running through the squad that no other side bar New Zealand can match, with several players that have been there and won the World Cup in 2007. It will stand them in good stead for the claustrophobic nature of knockout tournament rugby.

Weaknesses
Heyneke Meyer is in something of a ‘stick or twist’ transition phase at the worst time possible. The experienced heads mentioned above are quite often not the most in-form options in their positions; so does he stick with them, or give some of the younger tyros a go? That question also leads to the issue of what style of rugby they want to play… their traditional game, based on power and intelligent kicking, or a wider, more attacking game typified by the likes of Jesse Kriel and Handre Pollard?

Key player: Pat Lambie
With Pollard suffering a difficult second season after his breakthrough last year, it looks like Lambie could be the man to lead the Springbok back-line at the World Cup. The baby-faced utility back has been used more often at fullback than fly-half under Heyneke Meyer, but now faces the task of guiding his team through the biggest tournament in rugby. Is he ready for the responsibility?

Unexpected genius: Jesse Kriel
OK, so it wouldn’t be that unexpected given the way he has just torn the Rugby Championship to shreds, but Kriel has the chance to announce himself as one of the world’s top centres at this tournament. He is one of the very few men that have managed to make Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith look silly in recent times… or ever, for that matter.

Do say: “Jean de Villiers is an absolute warrior – it’s so great to see him recovered from that horrific knee injury.”
Don’t say: “Why has the Springbok emblem been moved to the sleeve?”

Predicted finish: Quarter-finalists

USA
World Ranking: 15th

Strengths
Under Mike Tolkin, the US have developed into a mean defensive unit, which has been the bedrock of their recent impressive showing at the PNC, where they defeated both Canada and Japan. They are a team very much on the rise, with a lot of buzz around the game in the country, and expect them to put up more than a scrap in every pool game. Their match against Japan might decide who finishes bottom of the pool, but should nonetheless be a cracking game to watch.

Weaknesses
Their flyers out wide (Bryan Habana is probably still having nightmares about that try from Taku Ngwenya in 2011) are often let down by a lack of creativity from their play-makers and in the midfield. While several of their forwards and back three options ply their trade at top European clubs, there is a dearth of quality half-backs that has come from a focus on the sevens game, rather than the 15s format.

Key player: Chris Wyles
The Eagles’ captain is a player that is massively underrated by many at Premiership level, but he has shown some very, very nice touches for Saracens down the years – not to mention finishing some belting tries. He will likely line-up in the centres, where he will be tasked with igniting the back-line and bringing the dangerous back three into the game.

Unexpected genius: Titi Lamositele
The 20 year old prop must be the youngest anchor of an international pack in the world. But the tighthead is creating an excellent name for himself, learning his trade at Saracens before displaying that nous on the international stage.

Do say: “Samu Manoa is an absolute beast – he’s going to be a huge loss to the Saints next year.”
Don’t say: “TOUCHDOWN!”

Predicted finish: Group stage

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

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Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images