With 28 days to go until rugby’s showcase kicks off, Gregor Paul profiles the game-breakers and potential match-winners likely to shine
Julian Savea (NZ)
It hasn't been a great past few months for Savea as he struggled with his weight and fitness. But he's on the improve and there were signs in that last test at Eden Park that he's returning to his world class self. No doubt he feels an obligation to up his game and repay the coaches and his teammates for sticking with him while he had let himself go. When his confidence fully returns, watch him resume his try scoring antics and damage plenty of people along the way.
He might not fit the bill as a genuine player to watch in the sense that he will set the tournament on fire, but he will be a fascinating study for New Zealanders. Anscombe has followed in the footsteps of Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake Naholo to go from Blues reject to the test arena. Capable at both No 10 and fullback, the Welsh have been sold on his booming boot, pace and willingness to keep the ball alive. He's also a superb goalkicker.
Henry Slade (England)
England have had multiple issues trying to find the right man at No 12. The solution may be Henry Slade, who impressed on debut against France in a warm-up test over the weekend. The 22-year-old played for England's Under-20 World Junior Championship-winning side in 2013 and has the ability to cover 10, 12, 13 and 15. He's tall and slim and one of those players - a bit like Ben Smith - who has an innate understanding of what is happening around him.
Henry Slade. Photo / Getty Images
Josh Strauss (Scotland)
Josh Strauss. Photo / AP
The former captain of the Lions doesn't qualify on residency grounds until the World Cup starts, but he is expected to be named in the Scotland squad. And he's likely to be named because at 1.96m and 114kg, he's a bruising, mobile No 8 who probably wouldn't have been that far from winning a Springbok cap if he'd chosen to stay in South Africa rather than shift to Glasgow in 2012.
He's proven himself a leader at Glasgow, where his accurate defence, lineout work and ball carrying enabled the Scottish side to win the Pro12 - what used to be known as the Celtic League - this year.
Henry Speight (Australia)
Henry Speight. Photo / Getty Images
The Fijian-born wing has struggled with injury in recent months and has barely been sighted. That might make him more dangerous, as he's coming in under the radar as the forgotten man. Speight, though, could cause a lot of damage if he's underestimated. He's a big man, powerful, fast and direct. He can run over defenders if he wants to, and he's also good on his feet and capable of offloading. What he also does well is come off his wing and pop up as a strike runner on the inside shoulder of his own centre, making him almost impossible to stop.
Jesse Kriel (South Africa)
Jesse Kriel. Photo / Getty Images
This bloke sneaked up fast on the rails this year - from being barely known at the start of Super Rugby to slicing through the All Blacks at Ellis Park five months later. Kriel, comfortable at both fullback and centre, is blessed with blinding acceleration, power and agility. His natural instincts are to look for holes and attack the defence. He picked an incredible line to break through the All Black midfield during the Rugby Championship and is a player who could ignite the Boks: tempt them away from endless kick and chase.
Cian Healy (Ireland)
Photo / Getty Images
It's not often props are players to watch - not outside the set piece anyway - but Cian Healy is a little different. He's a rough-as-guts calls-it-as-he-sees-it character and a fairly handy operator in open play. He can run and he can beat defenders - usually by ploughing into them. He has a lot of mongrel and desire to impose himself, and will no doubt be in a few scufffles and dust-ups.
Nadolo has become a cult hero in Christchurch where his try-scoring exploits for the Crusaders have become the stuff of legend. At 1.95m and 123kg he's a beast of a human and yet he's blessed with the most stunning micro skills. He scored some freakish tries this year as well as others where he simply worked up a head of steam and thundered on to the ball and splattered a few defenders in the process. He'll damage a few people, bamboozle a few more and be one of the more entertaining players to watch in the pool round.
