Rugby World Cup Pool D Preview: Squads, fixtures, star players and more
Henry Arundell, Kazuki Himeno and Julian Montoya in action for England, Japan and Argentina respectively.
Rugby World Cup Pool D pits England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Chile against one another as they battle it out for a place in the knockouts.
Ahead of the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup, Planet Rugby is previewing each of the groups with this the final one that we delve into.
England – World ranking: 8
Nickname: Red Rose
Head coach: Steve Borthwick
Captain: Owen Farrell
Squad:
Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, George Martin, David Ribbans, Bevan Rodd, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Billy Vunipola, Jack Walker, Jack Willis
Backs: Henry Arundell, Danny Care, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Jonny May, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs
Rugby World Cup record: Pl 50, W36, D0 L14, 72% win ratio.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: Champions (2003)
Key Player – Jamie George:Ā As we mentioned in another piece, Farrell is England’s ‘most valuable player’, but he is suspended for the opening two matches. That takes quite a chunk out of the leadership group, which means further pressure goes onto George. Quite frankly, they can’t afford to lose the front-rower, given the inexperience behind him in the pecking order. If they do, we struggle to see them getting past the quarter-finals and potentially the pool stages.
Player to watch – Henry Arundell:Ā If he gets the ball, that is. Despite England’s backline issues, there has been the odd spark from Arudell when he has been able to get onto the field, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him shine in France. The youngster is exceptionally quick, as well as being a well-balanced runner, and will cause opposition problems if Steve Borthwick lets him off the leash.
Not a bad first touch in international rugby from Henry Arundell. š„pic.twitter.com/A0fAfDh9hq
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 2, 2022
Japan – World ranking: 14
Nickname: Brave Blossoms
Head coach: Jamie Joseph
Captain:Ā KazukiĀ Himeno
Squad:
Forwards: Keita Inagaki, Craig Millar, Sione Halasili, Koo Ji-won, Shinnosuke Kakinaga, Asaeli Ai Valu, Shota Horie, Atsushi Sakate, Kosuke Horikoshi, Jack Cornelsen, Warner Dearns, Amanaki Saumaki, Pieter Labuschagne, Amato Fakatava, Shota Fukui, Kazuki Himeno, Michael Leitch, Ben Gunter, Kanji Shimokawa
Backs:Ā Naoto Saito, Yutaka Nagare, Kenta Fukuda, Lee Seung-sin, Rikiya Matsuda, Jumpei Ogura, Ryoto Nakamura, Tomoki Osada, Dylan Riley, Siosaia Fifita, Semisi Masirewa, Jone Naikabula, Lomano Lemeki, Kotaro Matsushima
Rugby World Cup record: Pl 33, W8, D2, L23, 24% win rate.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: Quarter-Finalists (2019)
Key Player – Kazuki Himeno:Ā Genuinely one of the world’s best back-rows, even if the wider rugby public rarely get to see him play consistently, given Japan’s lack of games against tier-one opposition. A superb carrier who is an absolute nuisance at the breakdown, he is now their captain after taking over from Michael Leitch.
Player to watch – Warner Dearns:Ā An underrated part of the Brave Blossoms game in the last World Cup was their ability to compete up front. Their set-piece was solid, and they controlled the gain line battle pretty well, but that has not been the case recently. At least with Dearns, they have a hefty unit who can compete physically. He was a late addition to the squad following injuries toĀ James Moore and Amato Fakatava, having himself been on the sidelines, but, providing he is match-fit, the 21-year-old could be a star of Japan’s campaign.
š¤Æ How has he done that?! Warner Dearns plucks it out of the air to score for Japan. #JAPvNZLpic.twitter.com/EZ1R4Lgyof
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) October 29, 2022
Argentina – World ranking: 6
Nickname: Los Pumas
Head coach: Michael Cheika
Captain: Julian Montoya
Squad:
Forwards: Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Francisco GĆ³mez Kodela, Joel Sclavi, Thomas Gallo, Eduardo Bello, JuliĆ”n Montoya, AgustĆn Creevy, Ignacio Ruiz, MatĆas Alemanno, TomĆ”s Lavanini, Guido Petti, Facundo Isa, Pablo Matera, Juan MartĆn GonzĆ”lez, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Pedro Rubiolo, Rodrigo Bruni
Backs: Gonzalo Bertranou, Lautaro BazĆ”n VĆ©lez, TomĆ”s Cubelli, Santiago Carreras, NicolĆ”s SĆ”nchez, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, JerĆ³nimo de la Fuente, MatĆas Moroni, Emiliano Boffelli, Juan Cruz MallĆa, Mateo Carreras, Juan Imhoff, Rodrigo IsgrĆ³, MartĆn Bogado
Rugby World Cup record: Pl 41, W 21, D0, L20, 51% win rate.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: 3rd Place (2007)
Key Player – Julian Montoya:Ā Captain fantastic; Montoya is probably Los Pumas’ only player who would compete for a place in a world XV. He is exceptional in both the set-piece and the loose, with his breakdown work particularly excellent.
Player to watch – Thomas Gallo:Ā Another front-rower, this time at prop, as Gallo looks to show the world what he is capable of. There are still concerns around his scrummaging, but in this pool, he won’t be tested as much as he was in the Rugby Championship. That will, therefore, hopefully allow him to flourish around the field, where he can make dents in the opposition rearguard.Ā
Sometimes you get magic moments in games where everyone forgets their positions and they're just rugby players.
This is one such moment from Thomas Gallo and Alessandro Izekor.#URCpic.twitter.com/rViatpRrhl
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) April 21, 2023
Samoa – World ranking: 12
Nickname: Manu Samoa
Head coach: Seilala Mapusua
Co-Captains: Michael Alaalatoa and Chris Vui
Squad:
Forwards: Michael Alaalatoa, Brian Alainuāuāese, Paul Alo-Emile, Soāotala Faāasoāo, Miracle Faiāilagi, Charlie Faumuina, Seilala Lam, Jordan Lay, James Lay, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua, Sama Malolo, Theodore McFarland, Alamanda Motuga, Luteru Tolai, Chris Vui, Taleni Seu, Sam Slade, Jordan Taufua
Backs: Nigel Ah Wong, Ereatara Sotiaki Enari, Ed Fidow, Neria Fomaāi, Ben Lam, Christian Lealiāifano, Alai DāAngelo Leuila, Tumua Manu, Melani Matavao, Duncan Paiaāaua, Ulupano Junior Seuteni, Lima Sopoaga, Jonathan Taumateine, Danny Toala
Rugby World Cup record: Pl 32, W13, D0, L19, 41% win rate.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: Quarter-Finalist (1991, 1995)
Key Player – Theo McFarland:Ā A star for Saracens in the first half of the Premiership campaign, his season was sadly cut short due to injury, but he has thankfully recovered in time to be available for the World Cup. Equally as effective at lock or flanker, McFarland is superb in the lineout but also offers so much around the field. Having had a background in basketball, he is comfortable with ball in hand, while his athleticism allows him to be effective in the wider channels.
Back doing his thing! š¼šø @TheoMcFarland06 @Saracens #TheoMcFarland #manusamoa #saracens #gallagherprem #premrugby #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/hE0v4TP91r
— TSMC Global (@TSMCGlobal) August 28, 2023
Player to watch – Tumua Manu:Ā A hard-running back who can play either centre or on the wing, he could, on the evidence of his performance against Ireland, be one of the stars of the pool stages. Hopefully, the coaches have learned their lesson and keep him in the midfield, as his skills could be a point of difference for the Pacific Islanders.
Chile – World ranking: 22
Nickname: Condores
Head coach: Pablo Lemoine
Captain: MartĆn Sigren
Squad:
Forwards: Javier Carrasco, Salvador Lues, MatĆas Dittus, IƱaki Gurruchaga, Esteban Inostroza, Augusto Bohme, TomĆ”s Dussaillant, Diego Escobar, Javier Eissmann, Pablo Huete, Santiago Pedrero, Augusto Sarmiento, Alfonso Escobar, Raimundo MartĆnez, Clemente Saavedra, MartĆn Sigren, Ignacio Silva
Backs: Lukas Carvallo, Marcelo Torrealba, BenjamĆn Videla, Rodrigo FernĆ”ndez, Santiago Videla, Pablo Casas, MatĆas Garafulic, JosĆ© Ignacio Larenas, Domingo Saavedra, Franco Velarde, NicolĆ”s Garafulic, IƱaki Ayarza, Francisco Urroz
Rugby World Cup record: Pl 0, W0, D0, L0, 0% win rate.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: Debut (2023)
Key Player – Rodrigo Fernandez:Ā Quite comfortably the star of the South Americans’ World Cup qualification campaign. He scored the try of the year in Chile’s first leg against the USA before playing a key role in the away match as they made history. A well-balanced runner blessed with plenty of pace and an excellent skill set, it wouldn’t be a surprise should Fernandez be playing in a top-tier European league after the global tournament.
Even in the pouring rain š§, you can't slow Rodrigo Fernandez down šØ@chilerugby pic.twitter.com/h3vRvMkFKq
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 14, 2022
Player to watch – Raimundo MartĆnez:Ā A talented back-row who gets his chance on the biggest stage in rugby. He is powerful in the carry and matches those physical capabilities with his tenacity both in and out of possession. He will be key for Chile if they are to get close to their competitors over the next month.
Rugby World Cup Pool D fixtures
Saturday 9 September England v Argentina – 8pm, Stade VĆ©lodrome, Marseille
Sunday 10 September Japan v Chile – 12 pm, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Saturday 16 September Samoa v Chile – 2 pm, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sunday 17 September England v Japan – 8 pm, Stade de Nice, Nice
Friday 22 September Argentina v Samoa – 4.45pm, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Ćtienne
Saturday 23 September England v Chile – 4.45 pm, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Thursday 28 September Japan v Samoa – 8 pm, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Saturday 30 September Argentina v Chile – 2pm, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Saturday 7 October England v Samoa – 4.45 pm, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Sunday 8 October Japan v Argentina – 12pm, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
READ MORE:Ā Rugby World Cup Pool C Preview: Squads, fixtures, star players and more
