World Cup Preview: Pool B
Brace yourselves for what could be the grittiest group at the World Cup. So will it be England, Scotland or Argentina standing at the summit?
Brace yourselves for what could well be the grittiest group at the World Cup. But will it be England, Scotland or Argentina left at the top of the pile?
Scotland in many respects have the favourable schedule – kicking off against Romania before facing Georgia – which should warm them up nicely for the Tests with the English and Pumas.
England are favourites for this one but in what is billed as the only group that has three strong candidates to win it, it promises to be close!
ENGLAND
Pool favourites England will have their work cut out topping this group of three main challengers. First up they will face a Pumas line-up that on paper looks extremely strong before they end their schedule against Scotland in Auckland. Warm-up victories will have helped momentum however and the emergence of Manu Tuilagi could be their wildcard in closely-fought games. It looks like team manager Martin Johnson will go for the experience of Jonny Wilkinson over Toby Flood while he sticks with a still-injured Lewis Moody as first-choice openside. Time will tell whether loyalty could come back to haunt him.
Last World Cup: Second-place
Sky Bet odds: 4/11
Key player: Chris Ashton
Pool prediction: 1st
SCOTLAND
Andy Robinson had the luxury of pulling the likes of John Barclay and Richie Gray out of Celtic Rugby long before last season had concluded in order to keep them fresh. It will be interesting to see if they are at the peak of physical condition or underdone when the competition kicks-off. However, one arguable positive for the Scots is that they open up against Romania and Georgia before it comes to the crunch against Argentina and England. There is little doubt that Al Kellock's charges are capable of topping this Pool – and in our eyes the schedule will give them a much better chance of doing that.
Last World Cup: Quarter-final
Sky Bet odds: 4/1
Key player: John Barclay
Pool prediction: 3rd
ARGENTINA
Over the hill, past it, too old: just some of the labels being attached to this Pumas team in New Zealand. We disagree with all of those and see a lot of potential in Santiago Phelan's side, particularly after he named his XV for their opening fixture against England. They possess grit and knowhow in the tight five, athleticism and power in the back-row, steadiness at half-back while the three-quarters are all game-breakers. Look out England and Scotland.
Last World Cup: Third-place
Sky Bet odds: 4/1
Key player: Felipe Contepomi
Pool prediction: 2nd
GEORGIA
Ranked as the best European team outside of the Six Nations, Georgia will look to cement their standing as one of the top up-and-coming teams at the World Cup. Having secured their first World Cup win when they defeated Namibia in the 2007 edition, Richie Dixon's men will be looking to add a second scalp to their collection in the form of Romania. The remainder of the competition will be more about putting up strong showings in the face of rampant opposition.
Last World Cup: Pool stages
Sky bet odds: 500/1 to win
Key player: Mamuka Gorgodze
Pool prediction: 4th
ROMANIA
While Romania have turned out in each edition of the World Cup, they have failed to make the strides of some other smaller nations. This should be evident in New Zealand where the Oaks will struggle to claim the one win they've managed in each of the three previous World Cups. Ovidiu Tonito has, for a long time, been renowned as their hard man but will have to stay on the right side of the law book if they are to stand a chance of upsetting the Georgians.
Last World Cup: Pool stages
Sky bet odds: 1000/1
Key player: Ovidiu Tonita
Pool prediction: 5th