With the next edition of the Rugby World Cup less than a year away, ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire gives his rankings for the teams that will take part in the tournament.
1. New Zealand
Nearly every rugby fan on the planet will agree that the All Blacks will enter 2015 as World Cup favourites. On paper they have the best team and back this up in their performances.
They can play an open game, a tight game, a kicking game, or a mixture of all three, each with top results, meaning they can adapt to conditions or opposition where necessary. Most significantly they just seem to find a way to win, even when they are not playing well. Over the past three years they have won 38 games, drawn two and lost just two. That is impressive stuff.
2. South Africa
They are the only team to have beaten the All Blacks in the past two seasons and did so through playing their typically brutal style of game up front. However they are not as one-dimensional as a few years ago, now prepared to use their backs who are capable of causing the defence problems. It is up front they will be dangerous though, a team you really do not want to get into a wrestle with.
3. Ireland
Well and truly look as though they could be the dark horses for this World Cup. In the past 12 months the Irish have knocked off the Springboks, the Wallabies, won the Six Nations and come perilously close to upsetting the All Blacks. They have a backline that can threaten, a tight five that will work hard and a strong, physical looseforward trio led by Sean O'Brien, one of the world's very best players.
4. England
They are trying to be a bit more creative these days, but the core strength of English rugby remains in the way their forwards toil and wear down the opposition. That they beat the 2012 All Blacks by playing running rugby is a myth - they suffocated them with an outstanding kicking game and then cashed in late once the All Blacks tired. Their backs are capable of the occasional break though and their forwards never lack for passion or physicality, making them a team that will flourish in a tight World Cup tussle.
5. Wales
There is plenty to like in this Welsh team. They boast arguably the second-most dangerous backline in the world, with the likes of Jamie Roberts, Jonathon Davies, George North, Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny all posing threats. At halfback they have unearthed a talented youngster in Rhys Webb, while their forwards will all toil away in a similar way to the English. Defensively in particular they are strong, particularly in the looseforwards, although may lack the punch in close on attack.
Their fate could depend on whether their first five-eighth is up to the task, whoever they go with.
6. Australia
This might seem a bit low for Australia. They are for sure a team capable of winning the World Cup. But they will have to sort themselves out quickly, having had a very average past five months. You can never write them off, as they are a team that can randomly play well, even in the middle of a horrible slump. Whether they are good enough to win three games in a row against quality opposition, as they will have to if they are to win the World Cup, is another thing though.
Ironically they may battle to make it out of their pool, having been grouped with Wales or England.
7. France
Ah the French, the team that seems to become so much more relevant once every four years. Like the Australians, it is hard to see them performing with the consistency needed to win the World Cup. They usually have at least one blinder in them though and they do not seem to mind saving that for the All Blacks either. Their forward pack remains a bunch of physical, hard workers and their backline has plenty of flair, with Wesley Fofana being as electrifying as any player in the world.
8. Scotland
There is a definite gap between the top seven and the rest and in some ways it does not seem right having Scotland just one place below France. Yet they deserve it based off recent form. In the past three weeks they have beaten Argentina and fairly comfortably beaten Tonga, while sticking with the All Blacks for a long period. They are a strong team in close and remain organized and physical as long as the game stays tight. Out wide they are less threatening and defensively struggle once the game speeds up and the opposition attacks with width, or changes the direction of attack quickly. On a wet night though, they could be dangerous.
9. Argentina Another team who will randomly play well, the Pumas claimed the scalps of France and Australia this year. However, they still do not look like beating the All Blacks or Springboks, particularly outside of Argentina, although seem to be able to stick with them at times. Their recent loss to Scotland moves them below them in the rankings. They play a similar game to the Scots too.
In close they are very strong and have possibly the best scrum in the world. Out wide they are not quite so proficient, but will randomly offer up a good attack out of nowhere and are better defensively out wider.
10. Samoa
It is hard to know what to do with Samoa and how they go may depend upon the presence or absence of off-field dramas that seem to dog them. On paper they have a very good team, particularly in their dynamic looseforward trio, dangerous backline and quality halfback. They remain capable of knocking off a heavyweight and will likely end up in a scrap with Scotland for the second quarterfinal berth from their pool.
11. Italy
Italy's game has come a long way since the last World Cup. A coaching change has seen them take a new approach and they are now far more positive in their outlook to the game, being prepared to use their backs and chance their arm. Even if they are still losing some games heavily, that has come as a result of their trying to win, rather than the old mentality of simply trying to keep the score as close as possible. That said, they are still strong in the tight and have one of the world's best No. 8's in Sergio Parrise. Over the past month they went close to toppling Argentina, held the Springboks to 22 points and beat Samoa.
12. Tonga
Do not write off Tonga as a spoiler team. They are hugely physical and when they get their tails-up can be difficult to contain, boasting some game-breakers in their backline as well. France found this out three years ago, as Tonga upset them in one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history. Discipline remains an issue, as does fitness and accuracy. They should be one of the stronger minnows - if you are to call them that - but progressing to the next stage may be a bit beyond them.
13. Fiji
Fiji are a team who can be fairly erratic, but like the other teams in this section of the rankings, do have the ability to be a spoiler team. In recent weeks they have shown the ability to compete with top teams, falling just four points short of Wales and playing half the game with 14 men. The next week they had a close win over the USA, managing just five points against a fairly average opponent after the first thirty minutes. Again, a team with huge potential and boast Nemani Nadolo, the big, attacking wrecking ball who was devastating in this year's Super Rugby competition.
14. Georgia
They have come a long way since their first World Cup appearance in 2003 and Georgia are now very much a competitive team amongst the lower ranked nations at the tournament. Their game revolves around the tight, with a big, strong forward pack which will look to beat teams up. In 2011 they were competitive in all of their games, holding Scotland try-less and even giving England a decent scare. Last week they beat Japan and they will be far better for their match with Ireland, despite a 42-point loss.
15. Japan
Another example of how far the minnows of the World Cup have come in the past decade is Japan. Once an easy-beat, they are now a team capable of pushing good opposition. They were unlucky not to beat the Maori All Blacks, keeping them out for the majority of the second half in their second match, doing everything but winning as they were robbed at the hooter. They lost to Georgia last week, although managed to beat Romania by five points the week before.
16. USA
They were well out of their depth against the All Blacks, struggling to stay organized while the New Zealanders played a fast-paced game. Against most other teams though, they do not have this problem so much though, as they can execute well given the extra time. Recent wins against Romania and Canada will be encouraging, as will their close-loss to Fiji in which they conceded just five points in the last 50 minutes.
17. Romania
Beat Canada last week in what was a very good win for a team that has drastically fallen away in the past 25 years. They showed promise at the last World Cup with a committed forward pack, although like the other minnows, struggled with a fast-paced game. In recent weeks they also had competitive losses to the USA and Japan too.
18. Canada
They have not had the best time of it this year, but are not actually that far off, having a series of close losses. A win against Namibia is a positive, although that was only by four points against what looks to be the worst team heading to the World Cup. If they can turn these losses into wins, Canada could work their way up these rankings over the next few months.
19. Uruguay
Make their return to the World Cup and were the last team to qualify for the 2015 event, so do not expect any miracles from them. Had their best result of the year in March, where they drew with the USA. Seem capable of beating teams around their level, although again there seems to be a gap between the top eighteen and the bottom two in these rankings.
20. Namibia
They were clearly the worst team at the last World Cup and it would be a surprise if they did much better at this one. Did well to qualify in what was an exciting process, but that was probably more due to the lack of quality in Africa outside of South Africa. They have lost to Portugal and Kenya this year, although pushed Canada and beat Germany fairly comfortably.
