Ready For The Off!

The Irish Examiner's Preview Of Rugby World Cup 2007

By Grahame Curtis

Welcome to the Irish Examiner's special preview of the Rugby World Cup 2007, which starts this Friday with the game between hosts, France and Argentina in Paris. Throughout the competition we'll be bring you match reports and news updates. We start this week with an examination of the teams that have made it to the Finals.

POOL A

ENGLAND
The Rugby Football Union
Formed: 1871
Rugby folklore says that the game was invented in 1823 when William Webb Ellis got bored with a game of football at the Rugby School and, to make the game more interesting, picked up the ball and ran with it instead. Fifty years later, in January 1871,The Rugby Football Union was founded and the first International Test was played two years later at Raeburn Place between England and Scotland - a game that the Scots would win by 4-1.
Unlike before the last Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2003, England's recent form has been woeful, with 14 defeats in their last 19 international Tests. With over a year of underperformance, English fans are unlikely to be looking forward to this competition with much hope.
The return of the iconic Jonny Wilkinson for the Six Nations gave fans some hope, but as we went to press it was reported that he had suffered an injury in training camp in Versailles and would miss their first game against the USA. Unless he returns to the squad soon, England may struggle in the pool stage and, even if they can progress further, their recent form suggests that the quarterfinals may see them returning back across the Channel.

SAMOA
Samoa RFU
Formed: 1924
Samoa has enjoyed more success than its Fijian neighbours in the full game since it was introduced their by sailors in the 1900s, even pulling off a surprise upset over Wales in the Rugby World Cup in 1991.
The pool stage may work well for the Samoans this time around. Although they suffered defeats to Fiji and Japan in the summer's Pacific Nations Cup, they did decisively beat fellow group-members Tonga. It's unlikely that they'll get out of the group stage though.
Centre Elvis Seveanli'i is one to watch for Samoa, the Sale Sharks player being well known for his late match-winning scores.

SOUTH AFRICA
"The Springboks", "Boks, "Bokke"
South Africa RFU
Formed: 1889
Another of the founding members of the rugby fraternity, the South African Rugby Football Union was founded in 1889 and the sport has remained popular throughout the population despite all the political problems that have beset the country.
Having won the Rugby World Cup in 1995 by beating the All Blacks in the final, South Africa maintained their form for some time with an amazing run of 17 consecutive wins and a sweep in the 1998 Tri Nations.
Although the South Africans beat England twice this summer and started well in the Tri-Nations, the reserve teams they fielded in the later games were handily beaten by both the Wallabies and by the All Blacks.
Even so, they are the favorites for getting out of Pool A and into the quarter-finals.

TONGA
"Ikale Tahi", "Sea Eagles"
Tonga RFU
Formed: 1923
Rugby arrived in Tonga at about the same time as it did in the other Pacific Islands and the Tonga Rugby Football Union was formed in 1923. In the next year Tonga played their first-ever International Test when they beat Fiji by 9-6. There most memorable moment would come in 1973 when the beat The Wallabies by 16-11 at Ballymore, outscoring the despairing Australians by four tries to two.
In 1999 they recorded a historic home victory by beating France, but they still suffering the effects of a financial meltdown that sees them with a new coach, Quddus Fielea who was appointed in March.
They don't lack for experience though, as Centre Brian Lima will become the first player to appear in five Rugby World Cups.

USA
"The Eagles"
USA Rugby
Formed: 1975
The first-ever game of rugby in the United States is said to have been played in 1874 between Harvard University and McGill University making the USA one of the old-timers in the rugby world - in fact, the USA won the gold medals in two of the last four Olympic Games that included rugby, in 1920 and 1924. The removal of the sport from the Olympics and the rise of native sports like baseball and American Football caused the popularity of the game to fall and it was only in 1975 that a formal Rugby Union - USA Rugby was formed.
Despite a recent surge of interest, the Eagles have not really prepared well for this year's Rugby World Cup though, with just one warm up game, a loss against Munster Rugby last week. If you can get good odds for the USA to finish at the bottom of this group then you'd be well-advised to take the bet!

POOL B

AUSTRALIA
"The Wallabies"
Australian Rugby Union
Formed: 1949 (as Australian RFU)
The Wallabies finally seem to be coming good, even managing to defeat the All Blacks in this summer's Tri-Nations (the first time they've achieved that feat since 2004).
They are certainly better in attack and defence than they have been in some time, encouraged by the example of captain Stirling Mortlock, who's the powerhouse of the team.
They'll almost cetainly escape the pool and could easily find themselves in the semi-finals despite having to progress past England or South Africa in the quarter-finals.

CANADA
"The Canucks"
Rugby Canada
Formed: 1929 (as the Rugby Union of Canada)
The first officially-recorded game of rugby in Canada was played in 1864 in Montreal but the Rugby Union of Canada wasn't formed for another sixty-five years. The Union was reorganized in 1965 and renamed Rugby Canada.
Despite a formidable rugby tradition, the Canadian national team has declined over the last two decades and, despite making it to a quarter-final appearance against New Zealand in 1991, they are not expected to excel at this year's tournament.

FIJI
Fiji Rugby Union
Formed: 1913
Excelling at Sevens (they've won the nine of the last twenty-five Hong Kong Sevens), Fiji has never really succeeded in the full game despite their long history dating back to 1913 when a Rugby Football Union was set up for the European colonists on the islands. Two years later, an equivalent Union was established for the native population and the two were merged as, what would become, the Fiji Rugby Union in 1945.
Unfortunately for Fiji, despite having beaten Australia (twice) and the British and Irish Lions in their past, the team is beset by turmoil this year and coach Ilivasi Tabua seems to have problems selecting his best starting players. They will definitely be pushing for second-place in the pool, but are more likely to finish third.

JAPAN
"The Cherry Blossom"
Japan RFU
Formed: 1926
European travellers brought rugby to the shores of Japan in the 1900s but it wasn't until 1926 that the Japan Rugby Football Union was formed. The sport has remained a minor one in Japan since then with baseball and association football squeezing it out of the mainstream - though they did generate enough interest to create a professional league last month.
The Japanese team continues to improve but despite their first win in the Pacific Nations Cup, when they surprised Tonga, they are unlikely to win a game in France. Their coach, former All Black and Italian coach John Kirwan will be delighted if he can see his team past either Fiji or Canada.

WALES
Welsh Rugby Union
Formed: 1881
Brought to Wales early, the first rugby clubs were formed in Wales in the early 1870s and the Welsh Rugby Union founded in 1881. Their first International Test was against England in 1881 at Blackheath, a game that they lost 30-0. Despite this (or perhaps because of it), Wales were invited to participate in the Home International Championship (now called the Six Nations) in the following year and they enjoyed particular success in the early years of the twentieth century and in the 1970s when players such as Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams seemed at the pinnacle of the game. Unfortunately the 1980s were not to be so good to the Welsh with players defecting to Rugby League in their droves and internal struggles between the provincial unions threatened to irreparably fracture Welsh rugby.
Narrowly avoiding the Wooden Spoon in this year's Six Nations tournament, they took heart from their sole victory over England. Likely to escape the pool stage, they'll be hoping they can pull off a surprise win over Australia to likely avoid South Africa and meet the English again in the quarterfinals.

POOL C

ITALY
The "Azzurri"
Federazion Italiana Rugby
Formed: 1928
Rugby, unlike association football, did not make it to Italian shores until the twentieth century had begun and the Federazion Italiana Rugby wasn't founded until 1928. The next year they played their first International Test and lost 9-0 to Spain; a defeat that was avenged when Spain visited Italy for the return game.
Joining the Six Nations tournament in its inaugural year in 2000, Italy shocked the European rugby world with a surprise win over Scotland and they have improved ever since, recording victories against Wales and Scotland (their first away win in the Six Nations) in February. Coach Pierre Berbizier will definitely be hoping that his team can escape the pool stage for the first time too.

NEW ZEALAND
"The All Blacks"
New Zealand RFU
Formed: 1892
Still the most-feared of rugby nations, and justifiably so, rugby has been the number one sport in New Zealand since it was brought to the islands by Charles Monro at the end of the 1860s. The first official game was played in 1870 and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union founded in 1892.
Despite their obvious superiority, New Zealand have been notoriously unsuccessful at the Rugby World Cup only winning the first competition at home. In 1991 they were beaten 16-6 by Australia in the semis, in 1995 they made the finals losing to the home nation South Africa and, in the last tournament in 1999, they lost to France after holding a 14-point lead and apparently cruising to victory.
Despite a surprise loss to Australia in this summer's Six Nations the All Blacks are the obvious favorites in France - though they were favorites last time in Australia too. Even so, the skills of fly-half Dan Carter, Blind-side flanker Jerry Collins and a host of others in a team that has just lost one game in the last eleven and two games in the last 27, should easily see them through to the final.

PORTUGAL
"Os Lobos"
Federação Portuguesa de Rugby
Formed: 1926
Portugal first played in 1935 and now compete in the European Nations Cup, winning it in 2004.
Their players gain most of their experience on the Sevens' circuit and it will be interesting to see whether they can build on their progress so far. Even so, expected them to finish dead-last in the pool.

ROMANIA
"The Oaks"
Federatia Romana de Rugby
Formed: 1931
Long known as one of Europe's best, outside of the Six Nations, Romania has been on the decline over the last ten to fifteen years with lack of funding and the loss of their players to the "bigger" European leagues, they have been languishing and their style of play - which is slow and lumbering - reflects this reality. Captain, and number 8, Sorin Socol, a naturalised Frenchman is one to watch though only Prop Petru Balan, who plys his trade with Biarritz has the extensive championship winning experience they crave.

SCOTLAND
Scottish Rugby Union
Formed: 1873 (as Scottish Football Union)
Scotland won the first ever rugby International Test - against England in 1871 - by 4-1 to cement themselves in rugby history. Two years after this historical victory, they became the second country to form a Union - the Scottish Football Union, who changed their name to the Scottish Rugby Union (presumably to avoid confusion with the association footballers) in 1924. Scotland was also the home of the first purpose-built rugby stadium when the ground at Inverleith was finished in 1899.
Scotland have been languishing in the last few years, picking up the wooden spoon in this year's Six Nations after a torrid home loss to Italy. Despite a win over Ireland in summer, they will be worried about the pool game against Italy that will probably determine second-place in Pool C.

POOL D

GEORGIA
"The Lelos"
Georgia Rugby Union
Formed: 1964
Rugby came late to Georgia, first being played by students and staff in Georgian universities, and they didn't play their first international until the visit of Zimbabwe in 1989 - a game that the newcomers won 16-3. Coached by Malkhaz Tcheishvili, who took over after the last Rugby World Cup, the Georgians qualified by beating Romania, the Czech Republic, Russia and Namibia. Unfortunately for them, they also ended up drawn in the "Group of Death".

NAMIBIA
Namibia Rugby Union
Formed: 1990
The Namibians are still suffering the loss of scrum-half Hakkies Husselman after the last Rugby World Cup, who is now their coach. Having never won a World Cup game, despite appearing in three consecutive competitions, they will be pleased with anything that ends that streak.

ARGENTINA
"Los Pumas"
Unión Argentina de Rugby
Formed: 1899
Despite their semi-professional status, Argentina had a good year with two fine victories over Ireland and wins against England and Italy in last Autumn's Tours. Preferring to play an aggressive game, players like Juan Martin Hernadez ("The Magician"), Felipe Contepomu and Juan Manuel Leguizamon will do their best to put their opponents off their game..
Argentina will be playing in the opening game of the tournament on Friday facing France on their home turf, and they'll certainly be hoping that Les Blues will not be fully on-form.
Unfortunately for los Pumas they are quite likely to be knocked into third place in Pool D by Ireland, who eliminated them in the 199 World Cup.

FRANCE
"Les Blues" or "Les Tricolores"
Fédération Français De Rugby
Formed: 1919
One of the oldest rugby nations, the sport being introduced through Normandy by English merchants, France has been very successful in recent years playing in two World Cup finals and finishing well in European competition.
The top team in Europe after their Six Nations win this year and victories over England and Wales, they were easily defeated by the All Blacks and will not be looking forward to meeting them again.

IRELAND
Irish RFU
Formed: 1874
Rugby was first brought to the shores of Ireland in the 1840/50s and the Irish Rugby Football Union formed in 1874 making them the third oldest Union in the world (after England and Scotland). Their first International Test match was at The Oval in London in 1875 when they lost 7-0 to England, their first International Test victory not coming until 1881 when they beat Scotland by 3-1 in Belfast.
Ireland may miss the skills of captain Brian O'Driscoll, who will miss at least their opener against Namibia, after picking up an injury against Bayonne.
Despite this, and being drawn in the "Group of Death," they have their best chance yet of getting past the quarter-finalsso long as they can reverse their form against Argentina - who they lost to twice in the summer.