Scotland
Odds to win: 33/1
Mood in the camp
Few could deny the strides Scotland have made under first Vern Cotter and now Gregor Townsend, and they will fancy their chances of upsetting a few teams in Japan having become a tough side that are really hard to beat. They have beaten Australia and pushed New Zealand all the way before an emphatic 25-13 win over England at a raucous Murrayfield really made everyone sit up and take notice. There are concerns over their form away from home and the reliance on a select number of key players, but Townsend has a talented squad at his disposal and he is fully committed after signing a new contract this summer. The Scots will believe they have a fine chance of reaching the semi-finals for the first time, and with good reason.
Coach’s conundrum
How to keep his key players fit. Few sides rely on a select few individuals as much as Scotland, with Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, John Barclay and the Gray brothers central to everything Scotland do well. If they fail then the side fail with them. Townsend will also be keen for the side to show their best form away from Murrayfield. Italy were only just beaten in Rome in the Six Nations and a defeat by the United States this summer certainly was not in the script. As with most sides there is a Jekyll and Hyde tendency to the Scots but Townsend has made such progress in the past 12 months that speculation about their potential in a year’s time is foolhardy. A win at Twickenham in March would be just the ticket, however.
Who can they not do without?
Russell is absolutely vital at fly-half but there are concerns over his move to Racing 92 just a year out from the tournament. The 25-year-old may well be a better player for the experience but some will question how much he will have in the tank after a gruelling season in France, and Townsend has said he would rather he were still at Glasgow.
Who could be their bolter?
Blade Thomson only joined the Scarlets from the Hurricanes in the summer but has already made a huge impression – and he qualifies for Scotland through his grandparents. He could make a big impact in the next 12 months.