Pool B
Teams: South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Romania
This pool hasn’t been called the Pool of Death for nothing. The current World No 1 and two side going into the World Cup in the same pool, as well as the World No 5 team makes for tough reading that one of them won’t make it out of the pool.
Throw in dark horses Tonga, who have bulked up with a number of ex All Black and Wallaby internationals and who can make life uncomfortable and it is understandable that this is seen as the toughest pool indeed.
While the World Cup draw has been hotly debated, this is the reality facing the Springboks as they set out to defend their World Cup crown they won in Yokohama four years ago and they will know that with a draw as tough as this, they will have to do it the hard way.
Coming into the World Cup on the back of record wins against Wales and New Zealand, the Springboks planning seems to have paid off in terms of depth and continuity, but where it matters is on the day when they face the games that matter - first in the pool and then hopefully in the playoffs.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is correct in his assertion - this is knockout rugby from day one.
Scotland loom as formidable foes in the opening game and then the clash against Ireland headlines the pool. Either way the teams battling it out in the pool of death are going to go gung-ho into the battle, and the strongest will survive.
With that in mind, here is a look at the five teams in the pool, and their chances of making it into the knockout phase.
IRELAND
World Ranking: 1
The Irish have been touted as World Cup favourites for months now, especially after their inspiring series victory in New Zealand and their Six Nations exploits as well. They beat the Springboks in Dublin in November by three points, confirming their pedigree but they haven’t had the big run in to the World Cup that they would have hoped.
They easily beat a poor England side and struggled against Samoa, which has kept them in their No 1 spot, but only by inches.
In a forward pack that plays exceptionally well to Andy Farrell’s process, the Irish have been on an upward curve for most of the period between World Cups, but they still have the historical baggage of never having made it past a World Cup quartefinal.
One thing is for certain, their clash against the Springboks is one of the two most anticipated clashes of the World Cup - the other being France-New Zealand.
Win that game and qualification is secured, lose it and it is a dogfight with Scotland for the qualifying spot.
Ireland have several big names that can make a massive World Cup impact, but none more so than Johnny Sexton, their captain and controversial leader, who escaped punishment for verbally abusing Jaco Peyper to the extent that he will be able to play for them at the tournament.
A lot is expected of Ireland and how they handle the pressure placed on them will be interesting to watch.
SOUTH AFRICA
World Ranking: 2
The Springboks come into the World Cup defence with record wins over Wales and the All Blacks and look like a smoothly running machine. The amount of depth they have created in their squad mean they have the luxury of almost two players in any position that can slot in at any time.
And while the Boks have shook the rugby world again with their seven-one split on the bench where they basically replaced the entire pack at the 46 minute mark, they have shown more than once that they are the masters of innovation.
For all the experimentation between the World Cups, and mixed results, they are primed for knockout rugby and have a game plan that is simple, focusing on their own DNA as well as more than a smattering of pace and flair on the outside.
Their finishing and goalkicking remains a concern, but then again, there isn’t a side in the tournament that doesn’t have some concerns going into the tournament. The Boks have the added luxury of two World Cup winners available if they pick up injuries.
The Boks will need to put in a strong statement against Scotland and if they beat Ireland they have the tough road against hosts France or the All Blacks. None of that will scare them off, as they have embraced the hard road in the defence of their crown.
The key thing will be to ensure their decision-making is good at the right moments, and that they don’t suffer from any cards - a worry for every team in the tournament.
For every other side the Springboks are a dangerous team, and if they continue to hit their mark, as they did in their last two games, who can stop them retaining their crown.
SCOTLAND
World Ranking: 5
The Scots have built up a rather talented squad made up of a lot of ex-South Africans and local talent and have flourished under Gregor Townsend. In the talisman Finn Russell they have one of the finest attacking 10s in World Rugby while finishers in Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are among the world’s best.
The Scottish front row boasts South African talent as well, and held up well against France in their two warm-up games, and their all round gritty play has made them a side that won’t lie down in a fight and who pose a dangerous option for the Springboks and Ireland.
Scotland’s biggest test is against the Boks in their opening game, where they will be hoping to cause an upset, but in reality they can get to the quarterfinals if they upset their neighbours Ireland in their pool game.
Either way they are the outsiders and underdogs in the pool, and very dangerous ones at that.
TONGA
World Ranking: 15
Just how good are Tonga and how much can they play a spoiling role? While they are a physical side with a plethora of skill, and have upped their game with a bunch of ex-internationals in their ranks, they remain a dangerous team for anyone in the pool, although the jury is out whether they can actually make it to the quarterfinals in the group.
With players such as Charles Piutau, George Moala, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Vaea Fifita and Ben Tameifuna in their ranks, there is experience and talent that can come together at the right time to be more than a nuisance.
Yet while they are likely to beat Romania, it is doubtful if they will trouble Ireland and South Africa, but they could make teams sweat a lot more than they should.
ROMANIA
World Ranking: 19
Romania will play in their ninth World Cup but aren’t likely to cause too much damage to any of the bigger sides in the competition. With a bunch of players playing in the French Top 14, they are a handy side, but at this level, where the big boys come to play, it is doubtful that they will do much beside keep the score low.
Their big game will be against Tonga, where they will hope to get a victory.
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