Rugby World Cup Teams 2007

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The 2007 Rugby World Cup, the event's sixth tournament, will be hosted by France and begin on September 7th, 2007. The event will be attended by 20 teams, eight of whom qualified by being quarter finalists in 2003 and the other twelve in a series of qualifying tournaments around the world.

There are four pools of five teams; this stage of the tournament earning teams four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points, by scoring four or more tries or by losing by fewer than seven points, are also available. The top two teams in each pool then progress to the quarter finals.

Rate the chances of the New Zealand All Blacks against the Rugby World Cup contenders:

POOL A

• England: current world champions, England, are expected to progress from this level. Losses to some of their fiercest rivals are likely, including back to back defeats by France in warm up matches. Expected, however, to be extremely competitive again with Jonny Wilkinson in the van and the usual huge forward pack.
• Samoa: darlings of the crowds since their first appearance and surprise rise to the quarter finals in 1991. Samoa are coached by legendary All Black Michael Jones, and centre Brian Lima will have the honour of appearing in his fourth World Cup.
• South Africa: the second top tier team in this pool were 1995 World Champions. This year, they bring a team that has been building well towards a successful tournament.
• Tonga: have never progressed beyond Pool play in their four previous tournaments and are unlikely to do so in France. Inoke Afeaki will appear in his third World Cup.
• United States: never a major sport in the USA, rugby has tenaciously remained viable. The third qualifying team from the Americas, behind Argentina and Canada, Kiwi coach Peter Thorburn's team are quoted at 5000:1 and face England first up in the tournament.

POOL B

• Australia: the top team in this pool and twice world champions, the Aussies will be looking to France 2007 for their third title. Inspirational halfback and Vice Captain George Gregan will also appear in his fourth RWC.
• Canada: two players, prop Rod Snow and second rower Mike James, join the fourth timer team. Canada will not be expected to qualify for the quarter finals, but they do provide a real challenge for Wales to be second behind Australia.
• Fiji: the masters of sevens rugby have never quite converted that success into the fifteens game. Nicky Little is the most capped in a squad that held Australia A to a 14-14 draw in June. They will relish their first opportunity against Japan.
• Japan: All Black legend John Kirwan coaches Japan, a team with the dubious record of leaking the most points in one match: 145 to the All Blacks in 1995. They will provide their usual spirited and enthusiastic approach; a similar result is most unlikely this time around.
• Wales: one of world rugby's traditional powerhouses, Wales has not had easy times lately. Gareth Thomas captains an experienced squad whose warm ups have included a victory over Argentina and a real hiding by England.

POOL C

• New Zealand: coach Graeme Henry takes the Richie McCaw All Black team to France 2007 as favourites. Again. The team the whole world wants to beat, the All Blacks boast good form and a settled squad.
• Italy: ranked ninth in the world, Italy face the daunting task of starting with the All Blacks. A recent modest victory over Japan may not give this team great confidence. Allessandro Tronjon attends his fourth World Cup.
• Portugal: coached by Tomaz Morais, Portugal were the last qualifier for RWC 2007, with a heart stopping victory 24-23 over Uruguay. Romania, in this group, will be their best chance of a debut year victory.
• Romania: renowned for tough uncompromising play, Romania this year qualified as number 2 in the Europe group, defeating Spain by 43-20 in Madrid. Romeo Gontineau joins the small group of players at their fourth World Cup.
• Scotland: on seeding, the canny Scots should be the second qualifier in this pool, although they will view the Italy match with some concern. Frank Haden's team did beat Ireland 31-21 at Edinburgh in a warm up match.

POOL D

• Argentina: the hard men of South American rugby have steadily improved their competitiveness at the highest level. RWC 2007 sees them in the opening match with the hosts and the last match of this pool on the 30th of September against Ireland. Augustin Pichot attends his fourth.
• France: the host team could send Paris into rapture and win the World Cup. This team will qualify in this group; double recent warm up victories over the old foe, England, must lend confidence.
• Georgia: thirteen veterans of Georgia's Rugby World Cup debut return; the team's solitary try in 2003 was against the powerhouse, South Africa. An excellent chance of victory is their match with Namibia (when they met on the field in June, Georgia won 26-18).
• Namibia: determined to be no walkover, coach Hakkie Husselman's team recently took on the might of South Africa and played well, despite the 105-13 scoreline. They will relish the opportunity for a first win in the Pool match with Georgia.

Twenty teams will compete in the Rugby World Cup 2007. Whether you have world Cup tickets or a seat before a television set, it's sure to be a fascinating seven weeks of rugby.

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Sports images from Flickr: Rugby World Cup France, Yachts and Cricket.