
Pool B will Begin with a bang as heavyweights New Zealand and South Africa clash 21, on Saturday September in Yokohama.
It is a pool that also comprises Namibia Italy and also Canada and the essential question is whether or not any of them is able to pull off a significant shock and stone the Springboks or even the All Blacks? It seems impossible, but recall Japan?
Here we take a peek at every state’s 31-man squad, choose a key player to focus upon, undergo current form and provide all the pool fixtures…
Head coach: Steve Hansen
Captain: Kieran Read (121 caps)
Previous 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 goal-kicking when it moves to the latter stages of this tournament, but around the park he is expected to shine and take his game into the level it so often reaches.
Form: Not perfect in the All Black viewpoint. Since winning the championship New Zealand have failed to triumph in eight Tests – an extremely strange figure for them. They finished second in the reduced 2019 Rugby Championship, with drawn with South Africa and lost to Australia, although they have also dropped to Ireland (twice), the Lions (and attracted another Evaluation ), Australia (double ) and South Africa because the last World Cup. Still, who would not bet on them to lift a third 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 coach: Rassie Erasmus
Captain: Siya Kolisi (42 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Rugby World Cup winners (1995, 2007)
Key player: Faf de Klerk. The pocket who sets their tempo and induces resistance defences all manner of problems to think about. The 27-year-old has blossomed over the last few seasons and joins a strong fighting game with also the confidence and vision to’go’ when it’s on.
Current form that the Boks will be the favorites heading right into the World Cup. From their floundering type under Allister Coetzee in 2016 and 2017, 2018 and 2019 has shown a redemptive period for South Africa, since they’ve beaten Scotland, France, England, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Their opening game against the All Blacks, along with a possible route to high avoiding New Zealand and the pool until the closing puts them in good form.
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 trainer: Conor O’Shea
Captain: Sergio Parisse (140 caps)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Pool point (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Key player: Sergio Parisse. Italy talisman would soon be taking to the field at a record-equalling fifth Rugby World Cup in Japan and he uttered the word’conclusion’. The No 8 will work himself into the ground in what is highly likely to be his final World Cup competition for the Azzurri and still has an engine to combine it with the very best of them.
Present form: northern hemisphere rugby’s lasting conundrum. Consequences for the team have mostly remained the same because Conor O’Shea arrived Even though the performances of Zebre and club sides Benetton has drastically improved. The Azzurri’s only successes over the past two years have come against Russia, Japan (that they dropped in a different Evaluation ) and Georgia. One has to go back to November 2016 for its previous time Italy beat a Tier 1 nation.
World Cup group:
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 veteran scrum-half will be the only surviving member from that tournament 12 years back and initially emerged back in 2007. Four players remain Rohan Kitshoff who showcased in the 2011 World Cup: Darryl de la Harpe and PJ van Lill. This experienced back of the squad will be crucial in attempting to accomplish a win in a Rugby World Cup contest.
Current form searching their Rugby World Cup success, Namibia will find it extremely tough likely to pick up a W within this pool. They did beat against Uruguay from the build-up to the World Cup, but also lost to Russia – whose very own results have been 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 an eye out for the hot-stepping winger who is making his fourth appearance. If you give an inch to him he’ll take a mile with his footwork and he has the pace to meet. Van der Merwe has a hit-rate of all 38 attempts in 57 Tests.
Form: Pretty poor. Their buildup for this World Cup has witnessed a run of beats which will have resulted in the squad distress. The summer has seen them drop to the USA (double ), Fiji and Tonga, while further defeats came against Uruguay and Brazil earlier in the year. They’ve won seven World Cup games but might add one more to this total within this pool.
World Cup group:
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: