RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 - POOL B PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Japan:

Japan have low expectations coming in to this World Cup, but will be hopeful of beating the USA or even springing a surprise on Samoa. They even beat Italy last year, who forced Scotland to a wooden spoon, and jumped ahead of them in the World Rugby rankings to 13th, one spot below Samoa and not far off of the Scots. This has to therefore be considered the most competitive pool for qualification, as Samoa, Scotland, Japan and the USA will all be vying for that second qualification spot. With the World Cup being hosted in Japan in 2019, it is important for the Japanese team to seal their first Rugby World Cup victory and make the sport more popular back home. 

I'm going to go for a Japanese win against the USA, but for them to find a second victory will be very tough against seasoned competitors such as Scotland and Samoa. Scotland have been playing good rugby all year, but have been woeful when it comes to securing a result, and this will fill the Japanese with hope, knowing that this Scottish side lost to the Italians earlier in the year. They are also fully aware that they can beat the Samoans, but after Samoa's showing against the All Blacks it looks as if the Japanese will have to focus on the game against Scotland to secure their second victory. Unfortunately I don't think they will be able to pull that one off, but will head home with their first Rugby World Cup scalp. In this pool it is difficult to say if that is enough to keep them off the bottom, given how close 4 of the sides are in their ability, but I think they will be fine, as I can't see them losing heavily to any opponent bar South Africa, who should also put a demolition job on the rest of the teams.

Predicted Finish: 4th in Pool B

Samoa:

This Samoan side will be confident of securing 4 victories in the pool stages, knowing that a well-performing Scotland are their most likely challengers for a quarter-final spot. Their big, physical style of rugby should be enough to see off USA and Japan in interesting games, but they will need to be wary of Cotter's men, even though they haven't been getting the right results this year. Samoa won the most recent clash between the two, their first ever victory over Scotland, and they will need to carry that momentum forward and take the game to a Scotland side that will undoubtedly be nervous about their inability to grind out a victory in the tough games. It is a very tight call, both sides have made strong performances against the Kiwis in the past year, but I think Scotland will finally get the results their play deserves, and beat Samoa in a brutally tight match. 

That leaves Samoa with just the two victories, against Japan and USA, and the two losses against Scotland and South Africa. They will be disappointed not to make it out of the pool stages, and will fight tooth and nail for the victory against Scotland, but will, sadly for them, just fall short.

Predicted Finish: 3rd in Pool B

Scotland:

The second highest ranked side in the pool, the Scottish will expect to go through, and with their team playing better and better lately I fully expect them to do so, even without the brilliant Alex Dunbar. What on earth Cotter is doing not selecting his best player at the 6 Nations, Blair Cowan, is beyond me, but clearly he knows what he is doing, having turned this side from a team playing badly and losing, to a team playing well and losing. However, I expect that to change this Rugby World Cup as Scotland get the chance on the biggest stage of all to show how far they come. Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray will lead the side through the toughest games, and barring a possible big loss to South Africa, the Scottish should win each game, the players they have are more skilled than most of their opponents in Pool B and they should finally see the results their play deserves.

After securing a quarter-final spot, Scotland will face any of Wales, Australia and England, most likely one of the latter two, and will almost certainly fall at this stage. However, this is a great opportunity to provide a platform to build on for Scotland. They have an opportunity to finally start winning again, and bring that form to the next 6 Nations and start preparing their relatively youthful side for an even better campaign in Japan.

South Africa:

Anything other than 4/4 wins for South Africa is inconceivable, an incredibly straightforward group for Jean de Villiers and his men, with Scotland providing the most resistance, a side they beat 55-6 the last time the two teams play. If you have a Fantasy Rugby team, get some South Africans in your side! A nice, easy start to the World Cup will be most welcome, but won't prepare them for the difficult clash against the runner-up of Pool A, whereas that side will have faced 2 world-class sides by that stage already.

With home advantage, it looks as if England will top the group and leave Australia to face the Springboks in the quarter-final. A crucial Southern-Hemisphere battle that will undoubtedly be very close, both teams have pace, power and experience and look pretty well matched, Australia having won the last encounter between the two sides. However, at a neutral venue South Africa will fancy themselves, high on confidence after a 100% start to the campaign, and they should overcome Australia, albeit in a very close game.

They then have the mammoth task of New Zealand in the semi-finals, and at a neutral venue it is impossible to look past the best team in the world and current world champions. If they are to overcome the other big Southern Hemisphere sides they will need their experienced big-game players such as Jean de Villiers, Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana to lead the way, with 340 caps between them. However, the Kiwis at the moment have an abundance of experience themselves and are just that bit better, but I don't think any South Africans will have a problem with bowing out to one of the best sides of all time.

That of course won't be their last game of the tournament however, as they will have a 3rd place playoff for pride, and it will likely be against one of France or Ireland. If South Africa can beat Australia then either of these sides should be a comfortable enough victory compared to their knockout-stage route to this game. 

Predicted Finish: 3rd Place

USA:

If you haven't read our "7 Players To Look Out For At The 2015 Rugby World Cup", you can find it here. We talk about the highlight for American rugby this year, and that is Saracens's player Chris Wyles. If they are to spring a surprise on any sides in the pool, it will almost certainly be down to this man, helped along by Samu Manoa. Although it is unlikely to happen, he will still be one to keep an eye on for his ability to score tries, and he could still thrill us even if USA go on to lose every game, which looks likely.

They will have to target the game against Japan, who are the most similar to them in terms of ability. The similarity doesn't end there, as the game of rugby is on the up in both countries, and each side will feel a certain pressure to raise the profile of the game they love. The Americans saw what happened to their country during the Football World Cup, and will look to inspire their country again, and what better way to do that than to beat the Japanese. It is a tough ask and not out of the realms of possibility, although if you asked me where my £5 was going I would have to place it on the more experienced Japanese side.

Predicted Finish: 5th in Pool B