Pool B

WALES

World Ranking: 8

Coach: Gareth Jenkins

Key players: Dwayne Peel, James Hook, Martyn Williams

Two years ago, Wales won a Six Nations Grand Slam and the development of their team ahead of the 2007 World Cup looked to be in excellent shape.

Under former coach Mike Ruddock they embraced a style of rugby that suited their footballing talents, a game based on keeping the ball alive and stretching their often more powerful opponents.

But due to circumstances beyond his control, Ruddock felt obliged to resign from his post and since then the Welsh national team has gone backwards.

Current coach Gareth Jenkins came armed with a decent record with Llanelli Scarlets, but he has been unable to guide Wales to anything like the same success as Ruddock.

Indeed, many feel that a record of just four wins from their 15 games under Jenkins gives Wales little hope in this year's World Cup.

From winning all five of their Six Nations games in 2005, Wales lost eight of their next 10 matches in the tournament, including a 23-20 loss to Italy earlier this year.

There was also the small matter of the way they handled the career of Gavin Henson, one of their star performers in 2005 but now omitted from their World Cup squad.

A siege mentality started to envelope the Wales squad and their relationship with the Welsh media and public hit rock bottom when they sent an under-strength side to Twickenham for a World Cup warm-up with England, only to be thumped 62-5.

Things were not looking good for Jenkins' side.

They also could only manage to show glimpses of class against a rapidly improving French team at the Millennium Stadium two weeks later when they let in four soft tries and rarely looked like scoring themselves.

However, there have been enough promising performances in 2007 to offer them a glimmer of hope. They were deserved winners against England back in March and, more recently, they produced some decent running rugby to defeat a powerful Argentina side in Cardiff.

Wales are not as poor a team as their record under Jenkins suggests and if they can keep their key players fit then they could make an impact in France, as they so nearly did in 2003 in their quarter-final with eventual champions England.

In fly-half James Hook they have one of the most naturally talented players around and he could prove to be one of the star performers at the 2007 tournament.

Skipper Gareth Thomas, when he is not arguing with the press, is also an excellent player, as his record number of tries for Wales suggests.

Their back three of Shane Williams, Kevin Morgan and Mark Jones can also run teams ragged when the force is with them.

However, for any of these players to shine the Welsh forwards will need to secure decent possession, and this has often been their downfall, especially at the line-out.

Wales have been handed a favourable draw in Pool B. With the exception of Australia, they should not have too many problems in their group games.

And although Australia are a better side on paper, Wales will have home advantage when they meet on September 15.

A victory over the Wallabies is not beyond Jenkins' team and if they do manage to top their group then they face a likely quarter-final with struggling England, rather than South Africa if they finish runners-up.

Wales have only once before reached the World Cup semi-finals, in 1987, and recent results suggest they have little chance of repeating that success.

But they are a maverick side and if they can rediscover their form of 2005 then they may just be the surprise team in France.

Rugby World Cup record

1987: 3rd

1991: Two pool wins

1995: One pool win

1999: Quarter-finals

2003: Quarter-finals

Squad

Forwards: Michael Owen, Martyn Williams, Colin Charvis, Alix Popham, Jonathan Thomas, Ian Evans, Will James, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Gough, Chris Horsman, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, T Rhys Thomas, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins, Duncan Jones.

Backs: Gareth Thomas (Captain), Kevin Morgan, Shane Williams, Dafydd James, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Robinson, Sonny Parker, Mark Jones, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Ceri Sweeney, Dwayne Peel, Mike Phillips, Gareth Cooper.

AUSTRALIA

World Ranking: 2

Coach: John Connolly

Key Players: Stirling Mortlock, George Smith, Stephen Larkham (pictured)

Australia go into the World Cup as the only side to have lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy on two occasions and the only nation to have reached three finals.

Furthermore, and perhaps more relevant to the 2007 tournament, they go into the World Cup as the only side to have beaten the All Blacks this year.

Since pushing England all the way in the 2003 Sydney final, Australia have been criticised for having a pack of forwards unable to match the best scrummaging sides in the world.

But during this year's Six Nations they proved in every game that their pack have made huge strides under forwards coach Michael Foley.

They also have one of the most dangerous backlines going into the World Cup, a backline that will only get stronger if full-back Chris Latham returns to his very best now that he is over his knee injury.

But it is the 9,10, 12, 13 axis that makes the Wallabies so dangerous. In half-backs George Gregan and Stephen Larkham they have two of the most experienced and canny operators around, and in centres Matt Giteau and skipper Stirling Mortlock two of the game's best line breakers.

The Wallabies went into the 1987 tournament as co-favourites with New Zealand, and many expected them to meet the All Blacks in the final.

But they had not counted on an inspired French team in the semis, a team that fought back to secure a place in the final with a Serge Blanco try in the dying moments.

In 1991, the brilliance of David Campese did for the All Blacks in their Dublin semi-final before they took on the might of England's forwards to win the final at Twickenham.

1995 proved their least successful World Cup, a last-minute Rob Andrew drop-goal eliminating them at the quarter-final stage and giving England sweet revenge for their 1991 defeat.

But the Wallabies bounced back in 1999 to win the tournament for a second time, this time under their inspirational lock and skipper John Eales. They also had Larkham to thank for drop-kicking them to victory over South Africa in a tense semi-final.

Australia proved the perfect hosts for the 2003 World Cup but few expected them to reach the final, again a supposed weakness up front leaving them trailing England and New Zealand as the bookies favourites.

But with Mortlock in inspirational form, the Wallabies downed New Zealand in the semis before pushing England all the way in the Sydney final.

Even the most ardent Australia fan would admit that England were the better side that year, but in true Australian fashion the Wallabies somehow managed to up their game and force England into extra-time.

And So to 2003. The Wallabies are currently second to New Zealand in the World Rankings, even though many would put them behind South Africa and maybe even hosts France.

However, their experience and success in the six-week tournament should see them reach the semi-finals, at least.

They also have a favourable draw, with Wales in Cardiff their biggest challenge in the group stages. If Mortlock's team come through this challenge then there is a good chance they will meet defending champions England in the quarter-finals and South Africa in the semis.

If they get that far, then their winning psychology and dogged mentality could see them go all the way - again!

World Cup Record

1987: 4th

1991: Winners

1995: Quarter-finals

1999: Winners

2003: 2nd

Squad

Forwards: Alistair Baxter, Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Adam Freier, Sean Hardman, Stephen Hoiles, Greg Holmes, David Lyons, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Moore, Wycliff Palu, Nathan Sharpe, Guy Shepherdson, George Smith, Dan Vickerman, Phil Waugh.

Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Sam Cordingley, Mark Gerrard, Matt Giteau, George Gregan, Julian Huxley, Stephen Larkham, Chris Latham, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock (Captain), Scott Staniforth, Lote Tuqiri.

CANADA

World Ranking: 13

Coach: Ric Suggitt

Key players: Morgan Williams (pictured), Mike James

There is no question that the highlight of Canada's rugby history was reaching the quarter-finals of the 1991 World Cup.

The Canuks have appeared in all five World Cups to date but it was only in 1991 that they possessed a side that could offer genuine competition to the leading rugby nations.

The 1991 Canada side had a tremendous pack that was able to stand toe-to-toe with any in the world.

It was a large and extremely physical set of forwards that included the likes of Al Charon, Norm Hadley and Glen Ennis, while orchestrating matters behind the pack was the experienced fly-half Gareth Rees.

Canada may not have been the most sophisticated of teams in 1991 but nobody enjoyed playing against them because they always knew they had been in a battle.

They opened their 1991 campaign with wins over Fiji and Romania and almost produced one of the biggest shocks in rugby history against joint-hosts France before going down 19-13 in Agen.

Second spot earned them a quarter-final against tournament favourites New Zealand and though few observers gave them a chance they acquitted themselves well in a 29-13 loss.

Sadly, with the onset of professionalism in 1995, the mostly amateur Canadians have been unable to reach the same heights again.

But they have always managed to compete in the tight and gave Australia and then South Africa a difficult time at the 1995 tournament.

Indeed, their 20-0 loss to South Africa became known as the Battle of Boet Erasmus after three players were sent off in what was a brutal contest.

For the 2007 World Cup, coach Ric Suggitt has selected a squad which he says has a good balance between experience and youth, led by scrum-half Morgan Williams who will be appearing in his third tournament.

But there will be no easy games for Suggitt's side. Australia and Wales will be too strong, so they will hope to secure third spot in their group with victories over Fiji and Japan. But even this is not guaranteed.

Rugby World Cup record

1987: One pool win

1991: Quarter-finals

1995: One pool win

1999: One pool win

2003: One pool win

Squad

Forwards: Scott Franklin, Dan Pletch, Mike Pletch, Jon Thiel, Kevin Tkachuk, Aaron Carpenter, Pat Riordan, Mike Burak, Jamie Cudmore, Mike James, Luke Tait, Colin Yukes, David Biddle, Adam Kleeberger, Rod Snow, Sean-Michael Stephen, Mike Webb.

Backs: Ed Fairhurst, Matt Weingart, Morgan Williams (Captain), Ander Monro, Ryan Smith, Craig Culpan, Derek Daypuck, David Spicer, Nick Trenkel, Justin Mensah-Coker, James Pritchard, Mike Pyke, DTH van der Merwe.

FIJI

World Ranking: 12

Coach: Ilivasi Tabua

Key players: Mosese Rauluni, Seru Rabeni, Nicky Little

Although Fiji have a well-deserved reputation as the finest Sevens exponents in rugby, they have also competed in four of the five World Cups.

However, it is fair to say they have never quite matched the sum of their parts in the 15-a-side game.

Fijian players certainly have the skill and athleticism to match any in the world but only on the odd occasion have they been able to marry the two together and challenge the top-tier teams at the World Cup.

However, what they have provided down the years are some of the most sublime moments in rugby history, length-of-the-field tries conjured from nowhere, with forwards running and handling like backs and their players defying normal rugby conventions.

Before the advent of professionalism, Fiji were able to rely on their natural abilities to make up for any set-piece disadvantage and they gave France a run for their money in the quarter-finals of the inaugural World Cup before going down 31-16.

They fared less well in 1991 and were unable to progress from their pool after losing all three group games, though it should be noted that in two of the three they went down by 10 points or less.

Defeats to Tonga and Samoa meant Fiji failed to qualify for the 1995 tournament in South Africa, but they improved four years later when they reached the quarter-finals play-offs before losing 45-24 to England at Twickenham.

In 2003 they won two of their four pool games but narrowly failed to reach the quarter-finals for the second time due to a 22-20 loss to Scotland.

But few will forget the stunning efforts of Rupeni Caucaunibuca, who introduced himself to the World Cup with a devastating try against France.

The Fijian star was suspended for the next two games for fighting but he returned for the final group game against Scotland and touched down twice in their narrow defeat.

Caucau has played for French club Agen for past couple of seasons and would have felt at home in the tournament later this year.

However, a falling out with the Fijian union has means he has not been selected and sadly fans in France will not be treated again to his remarkable speed and power.

Fiji will look to the experience of Saracens' veteran scrum-half Mosese Rauluni and expect him to get the best out the Fijian forwards and provide a smooth link with the backs.

Fly-half Nicky Little - Fiji's most experienced player with 60 caps - will also be crucial to their chances.

Fiji did not fare well in the Pacific Nations Cup earlier this summer but coach Ilivasi Tabua was without many of his senior internationals who were unavailable due to club commitments.

A quarter-final spot will be their goal in France. They will be confident of their chances against Canada and Japan and will target the game with Wales as the key to their progress beyond the group stages.

Rugby World Cup record

1987: Quarter-finals

1991: No wins

1995: Did not qualify

1999: Quarter-final play-off

2003: Two pool wins

Squad

Forwards: Graham Dewes, Alefoso Yalayalatabua, Sunia Koto, Vereniki Sauturaga, Jone Railomo, Henry Qiodravu, Bill Gadolo, Ifereimi Rawaqa, Kele Leawere, Isoa Domolailai, Wame Lewaravu, Jone Qovu, Netani Talei, Semisi Naevo, Sisa Koyamaibole, Aca Ratuva, Akapusi Qera.

Backs: Jone Daunivucu, Mosese Rauluni, Nicky Little, Waisea Luveniyali, Seremaia Bai, Seru Rabeni, Kameli Ratuvou, Maleli Kunavore, Vilimoni Delasau, Isoa Neivua, Filimone Bolavucu, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Norman Ligairi.

JAPAN

World Ranking: 18

Coach: John Kirwan

Key players: Takuro Miuchi (pictured), Glen Marsh, Hare Makiri

Japan have long been the powerhouses of Asian rugby and are, to date, the only Asian nation to have qualified for the World Cup. In fact, they have competed in all five tournaments.

It is no secret that their players lack the physique to be true contenders on the world stage, but what they lack in size they certainly make up for in speed and organisation.

Over the years, Japan have made the most of overseas players who have spent enough time in the Land of the Rising Sun to qualify for the international side through residency and this year is no different.

The policy has allowed them to add some much-needed beef to their forwards and greater experience in some of the key positions. It looks likely their squad for France will include at least three New Zealanders.

That said, Japan have just the one World Cup victory to their name, a 52-8 victory over Zimbabwe in Belfast, back in 1991.

While their record is nothing to boast about, they have rarely failed to give a good account of themselves. Their bravery and never-say-die attitude have earned them praise at every tournament.

In a bid to improve their chances in France, the Japan Rugby Union this year employed the services of New Zealand legend John Kirwan, who has been coaching the Brave Blossoms since January.

Kirwan, who was in charge of Italy at the 2003 tournament, has been given a target of achieving two victories in France to surpass Japan's previous best effort in 1991.

It looks a big ask for the former All Blacks wing as his side have been drawn with Australia, Wales, Fiji and Canada in Pool B.

The Wallabies and Welsh will almost certainly prove too strong for Kirwan's side so they will be targeting the latter two.

Kirwan has pulled off shock wins in the past, guiding Italy to historic Six Nations victories over Wales in 2003 and Scotland in 2004, and he will doubtless have a few surprises in store for the Canadians and the inconsistent Fijians.

Can Japan reach their target of two wins? Unlikely. Will they again entertain us with their quick-fire brand of rugby? Most likely.

Rugby World Cup record

1987: No wins

1991: One pool win

1995: No wins

1999: No wins

Squad

Forwards: Ryo Yamamura, Masahito Yamamoto, Tomokazu Soma, Tatsukichi Nishiura, Yuji Matsubara, Mitsugu Yamamoto, Hitoshi Ono, Takanori Kumagae, Luatangi Samurai Vatuvei, Luke Thompson, Takuro Miuchi (pictured), Yasunori Watanabe, Hajime Kiso, Hare Makiri, Philip O'Reilly, Takamichi Sasaki.

Backs: Yuki Yatomi, Tomoki Yoshida, Eiji Ando, Kousei Ono, Shotaro Onishi, Nataniela Oto, Yuta Imamura, Koji Taira, Bryce Robins, Daisuke Ohata, Hirotaki Onozawa, Kosuke Endo, Christian Loamanu, Go Aruga

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport