KEY POINTS:
PARIS - A glance at the teams competing in the 2007 Rugby Union World Cup which runs from September 7 to October 20 beginning with Pool A:
Pool A
ENGLAND
The defending world champions have stuttered through a fairly unimpressive run since their epic victory over
Australia in the 2003 edition. The change of coach from Andy Robinson to the wily and evergreen Brian Ashton has seen some improvement. Victory over France in the Six Nations showed some cause for optimism though that was ended by a follow-up defeat to Wales. Mixture of old heads from 2003 - such as Mike Catt and Lawrence Dallaglio - and youthful talent like Mathew Tait should see them through to the last eight but not much further.
SAMOA
Gave England a scare in 2003 and coach Michael Jones aims to go one better this time and beat the world champions and edge them out of the last eight. "We have a big dream. The first step is to make the quarters, I believe we can get there, another step and make the semis, and then to the finals, but it's a big dream. I believe we can make it," said the former All Black. The backs are strong with veteran Brian Lima set for a record fifth World Cup while Leicester's Alesana Tuilaga should be a fearsome prospect if he transfers his domestic form onto the international stage.
SOUTH AFRICA
Having come through several near-scrapes with poor form and the usual arguments over the quota system, but Springboks coach Jake White has done a great job in raising their form. Introduction of several younger players mixed with the veterans such as captain Jon Smit, Percy Montgomery and outstanding lock Victor Matfield make them a more imposing and threatening presence this time round than the pallid squad that failed to sparkle at the 2003 World Cup. Could well top the pool and from then on is anyone's guess what they might do, but finalists is not out of the question.
UNITED STATES
Sadly there has been nothing to suggest in the past four years that the Americans have improved. Lack of regular meetings with the top teams hasn't helped, but one-sided matches don't bring in sponsors or television viewers. However, the two-time Olympic champions grabbed a surprise and impressive qualifying win over Uruguay to make the finals. Have talented fly-half in Mike Hercus who spent time at English Premiership outfit Sale and Welsh giants Llanelli but is now back in the States. Eagles coach Peter Thorburn believes he has assembled a versatile squad, but probably versatile enough only to avoid finishing bottom of the Pool.
TONGA
Hardhitting - sometimes too much so - with no little skill but lack of fitness over 80 minutes still remains a problem and assembling all their best players is also a constant drama. Victory over Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup was a good morale booster but that was followed by a walloping from Samoa. Could give opponents a tough going over in early exchanges but could suffer badly when they run out of steam. The IRB's funding of fitness training equipment and other resources in the past four years should eventually pay dividends - but not this time.
- AFP