Rugby World Cup pool previews: Pool B

While it looks at first glance like a fairly mundane pool, with South Africa likely to advance, there’s a bit of spice in Pool B.

World Cup pool previews:
– POOL A
– POOL C

After South Africa, the race for second place and a quarter-final spot will be a tight one. Scotland will feel the likes of Japan, Samoa and USA breathing down their necks.

POOL B:

South Africa
It’s hard to know exactly what to make of South Africa leading into this tournament. On the one hand there’s a lot of singularly good rugby players in the squad Heyneke Meyer has named.

Bismark du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana – all are world-class players that would push for selection in any team around the world.

But they’ve had a fairly average 2015. They lost to Australia, were overrun by New Zealand and then Argentina at home before beating Argentina in the return fixture. Mixed, at best.

The problem is, with all these great players it’s unclear what the Springboks have been moulded into under Meyer. Are they younger? In some positions, but not all. Are they faster? It appears they’re not just bulky and ponderous, but they aren’t going to be the fastest at the cup.

Are they going to revert back to a territory game? Well, they haven’t shown a 2007 Springboks pure field position style in years, so it would be hard to pull that out on command.

The Springboks still have experienced players across the park and will be relying on the bulk of those players to stand up under the bright lights of a World Cup with the injection of just a few young sparks hopefully enough to bowl over tougher opponents.

Escaping the pool stage shouldn’t be a problem but going deep into the knockouts will require a form reversal.

Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
The Who Who are you

Samoa
What’s that sound? That dull thudding? That’s the Samoan rugby team hitting people at the World Cup. Those hits echo. Headlined by Alesana Tuilagi, the 117-kilogram tank of a wing, the Samoans have a range of hitting weapons.

In this year’s Pacific Nations Cup Samoa beat USA, Canada and both tied and lost to Fiji. So a bit of a mixed result. But they had a number players missing for that tournament – a theme that has plagued the pacific nation teams in building a Test rugby program for years, unfortunately.

Samoa showed a very pugnacious and combative attitude in a fairly close loss in their historic Test hosting the All Blacks. That match proved they have the physicality and desire to match it with the best teams and were just missing a little polish and perhaps ability to stay on the right side of the law more often.

Samoa should have eyes on progressing from the group stage with South Africa in this tournament, but will face a tough task in what might be the toughest pool race for second place.

Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
DJ Khaled Go Hard

Japan
The Japanese World Cup squad is sprinkled with its fair share of 30-plus-year-old players and not too many below 25. Not many players selected have fewer than 10 Test caps either. So there is a level of stability in the team coached by Eddie Jones – Australian rugby scribes’ favourite go-to quote.

So will the experience and stability translate into a cohesive and well drilled unit that is ready to stand up to more fancied teams? Or does it just mean we’ve seen the best of many of these players and improvement is unlikely?

A strength of the Japanese game that doesn’t get very much credit, and which has developed because of experience and regular appearances together, is scrimmaging. They have a strong unit, often anchored by Masataka Mikami.

But can they upset someone at the World Cup, where they haven’t yet managed a win? Just sneaking past Georgia 13-10 in their last warm-up match isn’t going to be setting Japanese hearts aflutter.

One of the best young players in the squad – giving hope there might yet be some growth in the team’s performances – is Yoshikazu Fujita. The wing has scored 26 tries in international rugby in just 27 Tests. If you’re going to stay up late or get up early for a month you should make sure to check in on Fujita.

Eddie Jones has been saying Japan’s history at World Cups is poor, but will they finally break through?

Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
Jack Johnson Sitting, wishing, waiting

Scotland
Scotland have only once progressed past the quarter-final stage of the World Cup, and in fact were knocked out at the pool stage last time. Many people are suggesting they’ll be the team to emerge after South Africa in this one.

I wouldn’t be putting that one in pen just yet – pencil will do. It wouldn’t be the shockiest of shocks to see Scotland lose to more than just South Africa.

We’re talking about a team that couldn’t get a single win in the Six Nations tournament. And in the warm-ups have managed two wins against Italy – which is a low bar to set for a team trying to reach something other than a false dawn for once.

Think about it this way: how many Scotland players could you see grabbing positions in many other top tier Test-playing sides? Richie Gray is a strong performer and Stuart Hogg has skills. Willem Nel is a strong prop, and was South African until recently. Greig Laidlaw at scrum half has some tools at the Test level. That might be about it.

Looking at the number of players from Glasgow and Edinburgh clubs, Scotland could be suffering from not having enough places to give more people a shot at professional rugby for their development.

Scotland should be able to beat Samoa, but that’s a game you should watch because another upset of a home nation side in the British Isles for the pacific islanders could be on.

Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
Britney Spears Oops!… I Did It Again

USA
While he didn’t get to show it too often against Australia, one of the most fun players in world rugby right now might be Manu Samoa. He’ll be someone the yanks can get around at this World Cup – and international viewers looking for a hook as well.

The Eagles now have 12 players in their squad plying their trade for teams in European competition, which is a pleasing position to be in. The wobbly feeling in the chest when USA fans realised captain Todd Clever and Scott LaValla was warranted though. Clever is the only USA player to have played in Super Rugby, meaning he was the real deal and will be a big loss – despite apparently missing team meetings.

Their game against the All Blacks this year was great for the code more than it was great for squad development. However, their match against the Wallabies gave some clues in the first half.

They’ll have their sights on being physical, trying to suffocate opponents by riding the offside line hard and turning the breakdown into a mess when they can. On the back of that they’ll let the likes of Samoa, the feisty Mike Petri and their fast wings hit on the counter. That or have AJ MacGinty kick goals.

Song summarising the fan’s feelings pre-tournament
Irving Berlin God Bless America (aren’t Americans basically just always thinking patriotic thoughts like this?)