Without doubt the easiest of groups to decipher, with the All Blacks, the tournament favourites, tipped to go through this group untroubled.
Argentina will provide a bit of competition for New Zealand but it should be routine thumpings after that.
All Blacks (1)
The current World Cup champions and the number one ranked side in the world for the last six years. They are the team to beat in this tournament and their strengths are everywhere – in their pack, their backline and depth in all positions. Their weaknesses? The only one I can pick is the mental scars of past failed campaigns.
Hopefully this was put to rest in 2011 after breaking the 24-year hoodoo at the tournament. In past campaigns there have always been a couple of vulnerable positions but every position now has at least two world-class players.
Argentina (8)
Los Pumas are shaping as a nice side and reinforced that with a great victory over the Springboks. This season I have seen their backline evolve into more of a weapon and their strengths are their pack and goal kicker. They are the masters of getting the scrum penalty, while their weakness is their defence on the wings. They are not an easy side to go through but the same cannot be said about going around.
Tonga (11)
Tonga lacks the polish of the top two sides in the set pieces and this will be exploited heavily. Right in the mix for third place and hold winning records over Georgia and Namibia. Strengths are their backline and weakness their forwards and set pieces.
Georgia (13)
A developing rugby nation and acquitted themselves well in 2011. Their strengths are in their forwards, they have a very sound pack, but their defence and backline is a worry.
Namibia (20)
Namibia should prove to be the whipping boys of this pool as they hold losing records against all their opponents. They currently hold the record for the worst loss at a World Cup, going down 142-0 to Australia. If the All Blacks get rolling that could be in danger.
The All Blacks look certainties to win this group, but Argentina look just as good to secure second spot. They acquitted themselves well in the Rugby Championship. These two sides square off in the first game of the tournament and then the next three matches should be training drills. Tonga and Georgia should scrap out third and fourth and Namibia will be cannon fodder.
Table
All Blacks – 4 wins
Argentina – 3 wins
Tonga – 2 wins
Georgia – 1 win
Namibia – 0 wins
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well the winner of that pool deserves the easiest run, they'll have earn it.
marto
Guest
Wouldn`t that be hilarious and embarrasing if the soap dodgers finished third in pool A..Oh dear ..hahahaha
Moondawwg
Guest
I think you are understating the win margins in the pool games and possibly overstating the margin the the quarters :P
canadiankiwi
Guest
Tonga are under-rated. Supporters always give credit to Samoa and Fiji for their physicality and athleticism but under-estimate Tonga. I give them a 1/3 shot of beating Argentina and finishing second in the pool. It is certainly fortunate scheduling for All Blacks to play Tonga in the final Pool C test as it will test the All Blacks physically before the QF- much better than playing Namibia last.
Old Bugger
Guest
Sorry dropkick but can you explain - what's location got to do with strong teams in this group??
dropkick
Guest
This kinda group is why this world cup should be in the usa or canada we need more strong teams
PeterK
Roar Guru
Rankings December 2012, just 1 year after the last rwc. It should be done 1 year before, ie end of 2014. Plenty of time to book grounds. Buy and issue tickets.
Jerry
Guest
No, it was done on IRB rankings in 2013, I think. Basically, the teams from 1-4 got put in one band (call it A), teams 5-8 in another (B) , then everyone else (C). Each pool got a random team from A, a random team from B and 3 teams from C. At the time of the draw, Wales had just lost 8 on the trot and dropped down to 9th in the rankings, so they got put in Band C (Aus were in A, England in B). It's just the luck of the draw (though it is a stupid way to do the draw). Samoa had briefly gotten into the top 8 when they did the draw, so they're the designated Band B team from Pool B, btw, which explains why that pool has only 1 quarterfinalist from 2011.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
True but they would still feel ok about playing the argies in a qf as it would mean they have just beaten Ireland and Italy (provided AB beat the pumas). Despite the poor record vs argies in recent years anyone would take a qf against them rather than a match vs AB (or no qf at all ah!). That's actually the dream run I have in mind
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Realistically you have 4 groups and 8 teams potentially good enough to go through to the semi's. the rest of them are not really up to that calibre yet. NZ, South Africa, Aussie and Argentina are all good enough to makes semis without being seen as a major shock. England Wales Ireland and France are the same as well. Any one of these eight sides would be a worthy semi finalists. Scotland or Samoa are the only other fringe teams good enough to make the semis but either one going that far would be considered a big shock. Groups B, C and D are considered weak because of this. Especially group B as it only contains one of these eight sides. Realistically one of the group A sides should have been in group B to balance things out but they screwed this up. Can you imagine the tournament nightmare if England the host get ousted at the pool stages. You could shove england Aussie or Wales in pool B and I think everyone would have them qualifying.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
France will not be confident against Argentina. The Argies have a magnificent record over them.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Tonga should be the A squad. Argentina & Tonga A squad, Namibia and Georgia B squad. All Blacks by 25 over Argies, by 60 over Tonga, 90 over Georgia and 110 over Namibia, then 1 point over France in quarters lol
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Pool A is 3 horse, not 4. Fiji won't get a sniff in with that group. It does baffle me that three qualifiers from 2011 are in the same group. Thought the top four are separated from the previous world cup and the losing quarter finalists as well. Pool B for example has a losing quarter finalist from 2011 and the other four didn't make it out of the pool, while Pool A has the 3rd, 4th and losing quarter finalist in it.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Who did South Africa play in 2007? England who were woeful in 2005-2008, Tonga, Samoa (who were also woeful in 2007) and the US. Then Fiji in Quarter, Argentina in a semi and the same woeful England in the final. Never before has there been such an easy world cup as the one South Africa got in 2007. They went through the entire tournament not playing a side ranked any higher than 7 in the world.
leftfield
Roar Pro
Not that I disagree with them finishing 3rd though. Argenitina will be far too strong.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
I don't think they will hold their own against an Argie scrum. Very few in world rugby can
leftfield
Roar Pro
Tonga look to have a pretty good scrum to me, there's some quality front rowers in there. Their lineout is less convincing but I wouldn't be so quick to write off their forwards as a whole.
Birdy
Guest
If you want to swap, I'm sure England would be happy to oblige.
Birdy
Guest
You're assuming Argentina beats France or Ireland in the QFs. I think both France and Ireland would be reasonably confident about beating Argentina. That would make the SF the winner of Pool A against either France or Ireland. No idea why've you put the word 'should' in your predictions. Why 'should' England beat Australia or Wales beat England, for example?
dropkick
Guest
Wow this is a joke what an easy group we have .not sure thats good thing