Justin Ives (Canon Eagles - Tokyo) Age: 31, Debut: 2011, Tests: 29.
A misdiagnosis and further knee injury forced Ives out of John Kirwan's 2011 World Cup squad days before the opening game. The Mosgiel-born lock has played for Otago and would watch them train as a kid - his dad Neville was the team's baggage master.
Luke Thompson (Kintetsu Liners - Osaka) Age: 34, Debut 2007, Tests: 49.
Longtime Japanese club player from Christchurch. A favourite of John Kirwan's, the middlerower has found it hard to stay in Eddie Jones' plans. Sister Anna is captain of the Canterbury Tactix and a former Silver Fern.
Michael Broadhurst (Ricoh Black Rams - Tokyo) Age: 28, Debut: 2012, Tests: 16
Older brother of the Hurricanes All Black World Cup standby lock James. Gisborne raised, he moved to a Japanese club six years ago. Gained notoriety for a crazy charge/yellow card against the US in this year's Pacific Nations Cup.
Michael Leitch (Toshiba Brave Lupus - Tokyo) Age: 26, Debut: 2008, Tests: 38.
The Japanese captain is an unusual case - he moved to Japan as a 15-year-old to study. Fijian heritage, Christchurch raised. He's coming off a superb debut season with the Chiefs and returns next year, which is a huge blow for the fledgling, struggling, Japanese Super Rugby franchise.
Sean Maitland (London Irish) Age: 26, Debut: 2013, Tests: 15.
Top outside back for the Crusaders but without having the right stuff for the All Blacks. Quit New Zealand for Glasgow and quickly made the Scottish team and then the Lions on their last tour to Australia in 2013 under the coaching of Kiwi Warren Gatland, the Welsh boss.
John Hardie (unattached) Age: 27, Debut: 2015, Tests: 2.
Grannygate with a twist. Hardie qualifies thanks to his Fyfe grandmother, but was controversially jet-propelled into the World Cup squad. He's so fresh he doesn't have a club yet. A quality openside in the New Zealand tradition, he helped Scotland to their only win this year in a warm-up against Italy in August.
Vern Cotter (coach) Age: 51, Appointed: 2014.
The ex-loosie with Counties and Bay of Plenty cut his teeth with the Steamers and Crusaders before heading to Europe, a scene he knew as a former player for French clubs. His tenure with the often struggling Scots is probably too short to judge properly but they have had a dismal 2015 and are yet to beat one of the traditional heavyweights under Cotter.
Jared Payne (Ulster) Age: 29, Debut: 2014, Tests: 8
Versatile outside back who got around in New Zealand - the national under-21 representative has Waikato, Northland (who he captained), Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues on his CV. Clever and highly regarded here and integral to recent Irish success playing at centre.
Nathan White (Connacht) Age: 33, Debut: 2015, Tests: 3.
The ex-Chiefs and Waikato prop, who captained his province, qualified on residency last year but was hit by injury and shoulder surgery when close to debut. The tighthead recently won his first cap.
Joe Schmidt (coach) Age: 50, Appointed: 2013.
Schmidt, a fairly brief wing for Manawatu in his playing days, has compiled a stunning record with Ireland, getting them to No 2 on the IRB ranking list. An old ally of Cotter's at Bay of Plenty, he was also a low-profile Blues assistant. His detailed planning and rugby brain have won wide acclaim in Europe. This has created a pressure to deliver something special in this World Cup. Former All Blacks prop Greg Feek is his fulltime scrum coach.
Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels) Age: 26, Tests: 1.
The Aussie bolter. Townsville-born, Waikato raised and won a world title with the New Zealand under-20s. The four-season Waikato and Chiefs prop won two Super Rugby titles before jumping the ditch to lead a well-performed Rebels scrum. A loosehead prop who can switch sides. Made debut in final warm-up against the USA in the weekend.
Sekope Kepu (Bordeaux-Begles) Age: 29, Debut: 2008, Tests: 56.
The France-bound Waratahs prop was Sydney born but moved to New Zealand as a kid. He started with the Tamaki club, played for Wesley College, and the New Zealand under 17, 19 and 21s. Stunning step and run from the big man helped Australia to a rare victory over the All Blacks this year.
Andrew Suniula (CSM Bukuresti - Romania) Age: 33, Debut: 2008, Tests: 36.
The big midfield back is well travelled, to put it mildly, including short stints at Taranaki rugby, Manly Sea Eagles league, then Chicago and European rugby clubs. American Samoa-born, Te Atatu-raised, Kelston BHS-schooled.
Shalom Suniula (Seattle Saracens) Age: 27, Debut: 2008, Tests: 13.
Like his brother, he's born in American Samoa, lived in West Auckland. A sevens specialist who plays halfback for the test team. Both brothers faced the All Blacks in Chicago last year.
Uini Atonio (La Rochelle) Age: 25 Tests: 9
Born in Timaru, Atonio attended Wesley College and played for Counties Manukau. The big prop (he's 1.97m and a staggering 155kg) seemed destined to play for Samoa, having represented them at under-20 level, but moved to France in 2011 and qualifies under the three-year residency rule.
Michael Wiringi (Baia Mare) Age: 30, Debut: 2015, Tests: 1.
The Hawera product made his debut at No 10 in a big win over the Argentina Jaguars in Bucharest in June. Among four imports, the first to play for Romania at a World Cup. The others are South African second-rower Johannes Van Heerden, Georgian hooker Otar Turashvili and Tongan centre Paula Kinikilau.
Alama Ieremia (coach). Age: 44, Appointed: 2014.
The former Hurricanes and All Blacks midfield back is a Mr Fixit for Samoa. He was initially appointed as a technical advisor to the team last year - along with Tom Coventry from the Chiefs - but is often referred to as co-coach alongside Stephen Betham. Ieremia was also given a high performance administrative role early this year as Samoa deals with a mess which included player unrest.
Milton Haig (coach) Age: 51, Appointed: 2011.
The Southlander, a halfback in his provincial career, also has Bay of Plenty links including coaching alongside Cotter. Went from coaching Counties-Manukau to Georgia, where he has had encouraging results with the old Soviet country known for producing physically powerful men. Haig's presence adds an intriguing edge to their pool encounter with the All Blacks.
Mana Otai (coach). Age: 46, Appointed: 2012.
The renowned strongman played prop, lock and loosie for Manawatu, was an unused All Blacks trial reserve in 1994, then captained Tonga at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa in his only season of test rugby. Educated at St Peters, he played for Auckland and North Harbour late in his career and has coached Te Papapa and Marist. A former Manawatu team-mate of Schmidt's.
Warren Gatland (coach) Age: 53. Appointed: 2007.
The long-time Waikato hooker couldn't attain test status as a player, being glued to the bench in all 17 attempts. But he's been unstoppable since, with Ireland, the British Lions and the last eight years Wales. His overall record is okay but Wales have had an awful run against the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies. His side surprised Ireland in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final before dipping out to France.
Kieran Crowley (coach) Age: 54, Appointed: 2008.
The stalwart, stoic Taranaki fullback had bit parts in the first two World Cups, a long coaching stint in charge of his province and was a selector for All Blacks coach John Mitchell. After missing out on the Blues, he headed to Canada, a job in keeping with a playing career in which he was determined to make the most of limited natural gifts. Is being assisted by his brother Leo and another Taranaki character Neil Barnes, who is Chiefs bound after the tournament.
