All you need to know: Pool B, Rugby World Cup

Pool B, L to R: Michael Leitch, Stuart Hogg, Kahn Fotuali'i, Handre Pollard, Samu Manoa. Photos / Getty Images

All you need to know about the Rugby World Cup's Pool B with South Africa, Samoa, Scotland, Japan and USA.

Read more about the Rugby World Cup pools: Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D

South Africa

Ranking: 4

Coach: Heyneke Meyer

Captain: Jean de Villiers

Previous campaigns1987: Not allowed to attend
1991: Not allowed to attend
1995: Winners
1999: Semifinalists
2003: Quarter-finalists
2007: Winners
2011: Quarter-finalists

Overall record: P29 W25 L4

Odds: $6.50

Squad

Forwards: Willem Alberts, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss, Duane Vermeulen.

Backs: Jean de Villiers (c), Damian De Allende, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Zane Kirchner, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handre Pollard, Morne Steyn.

How they qualified: Qualified automatically by finishing first in their pool in the 2011 World Cup.

Key player: Handre Pollard holds the key to South Africa's prospects. They will field a tough, unyielding pack but in Pollard they have a classy running No 10 who can open opposing defensive lines. If he stays fit, they could be a big chance to make the final.

Handre Pollard of South Africa. Photo / Getty Images

World Cup high: Nothing will top their victory in the 1995 World Cup, at their first attempt. The tournament was in the Republic and Nelson Mandela was on hand, wearing captain Francois Pienaar's No 6 jersey for the final.

World Cup low: Losing their quarter-final 29-9 to the All Blacks in 2003. They were poor.

Did you know? Since winning the 1995 tournament, South Africa have beaten Australia or New Zealand only once at a World Cup - and that was the 1999 third and fourth playoff.

They will be happy if... Players and supporters will expect - and settle for - nothing less than lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. When have you ever known anything other than a supremely optimistic, even bullish South African fan? No different now, even though there's some debate over Meyer's selections and they have been ordinary this year.

What we think will happen: They will win their pool and likely make the semifinals. Anything beyond that will be a stretch. Anything less than the last four will have their excitable coach climbing the walls of the coach's box.

Scotland

Ranking: 10

Coach: Vern Cotter

Captain: Greig Laidlaw

Previous campaigns
1987: Quarter-finalists
1991: 4th
1995: Quarter-finalists
1999: Quarter-finalists
2003: Quarter-finalists
2007: Quarter-finalists
2011: Pool

Overall record: P43 W19 L13 D1

Odds: $101

Squad
Forwards: Alasdair Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh, Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Stuart McInally, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, David Denton, John Hardie, Josh Strauss, Alasdair Strokosch, Ryan Wilson.

Backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Greig Laidlaw, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Matt Scott, Richie Vernon, Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg.

How they qualified: Earned automatic qualification by finishing third in their pool at the 2011 tournament.

Key player: Scotland were without a win in this year's Six Nations but one player to emerge with his head held high was Stuart Hogg. The fullback was in fine form throughout the tournament and, at 23, is primed for a breakout performance at his maiden World Cup.

Stuart Hogg of Scotland. Photo / Getty Images

World Cup high: Five-time quarter-finalists but, having only once made the next step, Scotland's biggest World Cup win would have been their 28-6 victory over Western Samoa in the final eight of the 1991 tournament.

World Cup low: Playing pool matches at Murrayfield in 2007 helped Scotland comfortably through to the quarter-finals but also saw them embarrassed 40-0 by the All Blacks in front of their home fans.

Did you know? Scotland have been one of the All Blacks' biggest bunnies at the World Cup. They have, of course, never won against New Zealand in tournament play, being knocked out by their chief tormenter in four of seven editions.

They will be happy if... If you listen to some of the soundbites emanating out of camp, Scotland will be happy only if they win the tournament. But to add some realism to proceedings, a spot in the quarter-finals ahead of Samoa will be a positive result.

What we think will happen: Scotland should struggle against South Africa but comfortably see off the US and Japan. Their final, pivotal pool match, against Samoa at St James' Park near the Scottish border, appears to be a toss-up.

Samoa

Ranking: 9

Coach: Stephen Betham

Captain: Ofisa Treviranus

Previous campaigns
1987: Not invited
1991: Quarter-finalists
1995: Quarter-finalists
1999: Beaten in quarter-final playoffs
2003: Pool
2007: Pool
2011: Pool

Overall record: P24 W11 L13

Odds: $251

Squad
Forwards: Viliamu Afatia, Jake Grey, Logovii Mulipola, Anthony Perenise, Sakaria Taulafo, Wayne Ole Avei, Ma'atulimanu Leiataua, Motu Matu'u, Faatiga Lemalu, Teofilo Paulo, Kane Thompson, Iosefa (Joe) Tekori, Maurie Faasavalu, Alafoti Faosiliva, TJ Ioane, Jack Lam, Vavae Tuilagi, Ofisa Treviranus (c).

Backs: Vavao Afemai, Kahn Fotualii, Patrick Fa'apale, Tusiata Pisi, Mike Stanley, Rey Lee-Lo, Johnny Leota, George Pisi, Paul Perez, Fa'atoina Autagavaia, Ken Pisi, Tim Nanai-Williams, Alesana Tuilagi.

How they qualified: By finishing third in their pool at the 2011 tournament.

Key player: He could have been an All Black in another life but Kahn Fotuali'i will be content to spearhead Samoa's efforts at a second World Cup. The former Crusaders halfback, who was close to the black jersey in 2010, will be tasked with adding organisation to a collection of impressive talents littering the squad.

Kahn Fotuali'i of Samoa. Photo / Getty Images

World Cup high: A couple of options, with Wales playing victim on both occasions. After being controversially left out of the 1987 event, Samoa established their credentials with a 16-13 win at Cardiff Arms Park in their first game of the 1991 edition. And they repeated the dose in 1999, winning 38-31 at Millennium Stadium.

World Cup low: Samoa have generally remained competitive, at least, against the major nations, but there was one exception - a 60-10 thumping at the hands of South Africa in 2003.

Did you know? Samoa are the owners of one notable World Cup record, losing the biggest halftime lead in tournament history after squandering a 16-3 advantage against Argentina in 1999 to lose 32-16.

They will be happy if... They snap a streak of three-straight group stage exits and make it back to the knockout stages. It certainly is possible - providing they do as expected and take care of business against the US and Japan - with their final pool match against Scotland appearing pivotal.

What we think will happen: Samoa will advance past Scotland and into the quarter-finals, with the draw at last proving kind to a Pacific Island nation. Samoa have the luxury of playing Japan before tackling the Scottish - being able to rest any battered and bruised bodies - while Scotland will instead be tenderised by South Africa the week before the crucial encounter in Newcastle.

Japan

Ranking: 13

Coach: Eddie Jones

Captain: Michael Leitch

Previous campaigns
1987: Pool
1991: Pool
1995: Pool
1999: Pool
2003: Pool
2007: Pool
2011: Pool

Overall record: P24 W1 D2 L21

Odds: $1001

Squad
Forwards: Keita Inagaki, Masataka Mikami, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Hiroshi Yamashita, Shota Horie, Takeshi Kizu, Hiroki Yuhara, Luke Thompson, Shinya Makabe, Shoji Ito, Hitoshi Ono, Michael Leitch, Ryu Koliniasi Holani, Michael Broadhurst, Hendrik Tui, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Justin Ives.

Backs: Fumiaki Tanaka, Atsushi Hiwasa, Harumichi Tatekawa, Yu Tamura, Kosei Ono, Craig Wing, Male Sa'u, Kenki Fukuoka, Akihito Yamada, Karne Hesketh, Yoshikazu Fujita, Ayumu Goromaru, Kotaro Matsushima, Toshiaki Hirose.

How they qualified: Seventeen teams entered the Asian qualification campaign but there was only ever going to be one victor, with Japan winning all eight matches while conceding only 41 points.

Key player: Michael Leitch is Japan's most recognisable name and their most important player. After establishing himself as an integral member of the Chiefs' loose forward trio in the last Super Rugby season, Leitch must take what he learned and lead a side often lacking physicality.

Michael Leitch of Japan. Photo / Getty Images

World Cup high: Japan's solitary World Cup win came with the caveat that it was against Zimbabwe, so finishing above Canada at the 2007 tournament, having drawn with the Maple Leafs in pool play, must be remembered as a finer achievement.

World Cup low: One that will be fondly recalled on these shores - the All Blacks posting a 145-17 win over Japan at the 1995 tournament, which is a record for points that still stands.

Did you know? The weakness of Asian rugby has created an ugly record for Japan. They've easily qualified for every tournament but continually struggled on the grand stage, conceding an average of 48 points per game to be the only side to leak more than 1000 points (1159) in World Cup play.

They will be happy if... They can repeat the efforts of the 1991 team and record a win at the tournament, perhaps improving that awful defensive record in the process.

What we think will happen: It's possible. With Eddie Jones providing a guiding hand and an ever-improving domestic league enhancing their depth, Japan could turn the tables on a US team who edged them 23-18 in July's Pacific Nations Cup.

United States

Ranking: 16

Coach: Mike Tolkin

Captain: Chris Wyles

Previous campaigns
1987: Pool
1991: Pool
1995: Did not qualify
1999: Pool
2003: Pool
2007: Pool
2011: Pool

Overall record: P21 W3 L18

Odds: $1001

Squad
Forwards: Zach Fenoglio, Phil Thiel, Chris Baumann, Eric Fry, Oliver Kilifi, Titi Lamositele, Matekitonga Moeakiola, Samu Manoa, Greg Peterson, Hayden Smith, Louis Stanfill, Andrew Durutalo, Scott LaValla, Alastair McFarland, John Quill, Danny Barrett, Cameron Dolan, Joe Taufete'e.

Backs: Niku Kruger, Mike Petri, AJ MacGinty, Shalom Suniula, Seamus Kelly, Folau Niua, Thretton Palamo, Andrew Suniula, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Blaine Scully, Sack Test, Brett Thompson, Chris Wyles.

How they qualified: Having suffered consecutive losses against Canada in a home-and-away playoff, the US thumped Uruguay 32-13 to punch their ticket.

Key player: His name sounds like someone mangled their group B opponents but Samu Manoa will be the go-to guy if the US are to raise any eyebrows. The No 8, who missed the last World Cup through club commitments, has enjoyed a distinguished career at Northampton and will next year begin a four-year contract at Toulon.

Samu Manoa of the USA. Photo / Getty Images

World Cup high: The US beat Japan in their first World Cup game, in 1987 at Ballymore, but it was their second victory over the Cherry Blossoms that stands out, winning 39-26 in 2003 to set records for most points scored and largest margin of victory.

World Cup low: The Eagles suffered their worst World Cup defeat four years ago in Wellington, allowing an Adam Ashley-Cooper hat-trick as Australia ran out 67-5 winners.

Did you know? They may have been luckless at World Cups but America are at least the reigning Olympic champions, having won gold at the 1920 and 1924 Games.

They will be happy if... They tick up another victory over Japan and perhaps push either Samoa or Scotland close, showcasing the growing strength of American rugby ahead of a bid to host either the 2023 or 2027 World Cup.

What we think will happen: Their strength may be growing but the US will still be put in their place through much of group B action, with their final game against Japan looming as their best chance to record a fourth World Cup win.

POOL B FIXTURES