On the path to world domination!

Rugby World Cup 2019 kicks off on September 20 next year when hosts Japan play Russia in Tokyo. Exactly a year out from rugby’s marquee event, Brendan Gallagher assesses all the contenders as the countdown starts

POOL A

Ireland (Current World ranking 2): Last ten games: WWWWWWWLWW Coach: Joe Schmidt Captain: Rory Best Have enjoyed a stellar last 12 months or so with wins culminating in a third ever Grand Slam and an impressive series win in Australia. Jacob Stockdale has emerged as a predatory try-scoring wing, Dan Leavy looks a world beater when fit in the back row, Bundee Aki has made his mark, Rob Kearney is on fire again and Johnny Sexton is playing as well as ever. Biggest challenge: Not peaking too early, as they did in 2006-07 before RWC2007. Rising star: Jordan Lamour, pictured. Odds to win: 9/2

Scotland (6): Last ten games: LWLWWLWWLW Coach: Gregor Townsend Captain: John Barclay Very much on the up with Gregor Townsend enjoying a fine first year and a bit in charge with excellent road wins against Australia, Argentina and Italy and encouraging home victories against France and England. Could possibly even have beaten the All Blacks although a big defeat against Wales in Cardiff demonstrated there is still much work to do. Fast, damaging backs and an increasingly reliable pack. Biggest Challenge: Not going into their shells if they encounter a rough patch. Rising star: Blair Kinghorn, pictured. Odds to win: 28/1

Japan (11): Last ten games: WWLLLWDWLW Coach: Jamie Joseph Captain: Michael Leitch Japan will be pleased enough with their form over the last year with wins over Tonga, Georgia and Italy and a draw against France in Paris as well as defeats against Australia and the Italians. The Sun wolves have also been more competitive in Super Rugby so the signs are promising. Their backs still handle better than most but their big runners need to make more impact. Amanaki Mafi remains their key forward but needs to keep out of trouble off the pitch.

Biggest Challenge: Not freezing on the biggest stage in front of home fans. Rising star: Ryuji Noguchi, pictured. Odds to win: 150/1

Russia (19): Last ten games: WWWLWLLWLW Coach: Lynn Jones Captain: Vasily Artemyev. Qualified via the most remarkable route having seemingly blown their chances after finishing third in European Nations 1 last season which doubled as an RWC qualifier. Then came the expulsion of Romania and Spain which saw them qualify automatically as Europe 1. With a mountain to climb, Russia are a long way short of some of the sides which competed at RWC2011 but you sense with the athletes they have available they should do much better. Biggest challenge: Ignoring that tag that they only qualified by default. Rising star: Alexander Budychenko, pictured. Odds to win: 2500/1

Samoa (16): Last ten games: LWLLWLWWLL Coach: TBC Captain: Chris Vui Challenging times for Samoa who were forced to undergo the indignity of qualifying for RWC2019 via a two legged-playoff with Germany after finishing outside the top 12 at RWC2015 and then finishing bottom of the Pacific qualifying tournament. Still have plenty of quality players but too rarely do they appear in the same team. Second row and captain Chris Vui is a dynamic character and the hope is he can galvanise the group because at full bore Samoa have the potential of causing some damage. Biggest Challenge: Creating an environment – including honouring financial commitments – in which their players can flourish. Rising star: Brandon Nansen, pictured. Odds to win: 500/1

POOL B

New Zealand (1): Last ten games: WWWWWWWWWL Coach: Steve Hansen Captain: Kieran Read. The Lions Test series last summer provided a reality check and since then they have kicked on impressively unearthing players like Shannon Frizzell, giving a debut to Richie Mo’unga and learning how to unleash the running power of Damian McKenzie. Aaron Smith has got his mojo back and their strength in depth is unmatchable. Yesterday’s defeat against South Africa however demonstrated that they are far from invincible. Biggest challenge: Find room for a frontline goalkicker, when push comes to shove Beauden Barrett is flakey from the tee. Rising star: Shannon Frizell, pictured Odds to win: 11/10

South Africa (7): Last ten games: WLLWWLWLLW Coach: Rassie Erasmus Captain: Siya Kolisi The arrival of new coach Rassie Erasmus and the appointment of Kolisi as South Africa’s first black captain is beginning to herald a new dawn with a 2-1 series win over England in the summer and a sensational and very high quality victory over the All Blacks in Wellington last night. It hasn’t all been good though. Their defeat in Argentina was particularly alarming and they looked lacklustre against Australia recently. Biggest challenge: Bottling the spirit and panache they demonstrated yesterday against the All Blacks. Rising star: Aphiwe Dyantyi, pictured Odds to win: 10/1

Italy (14): Last ten games: WLLLLLLLLW Coach: Conor O’Shea Captain: Sergio Parisse Not much joy in terms of wins but Italy are definitely making progress and are more competitive against the best teams for longer. They have unearthed a great crop of young back rowers headed by Seb Negri and Jake Polledri and a top class No.15 in Matteo Minozzi while Tomasso Allen is beginning to control games much better. Old warhorse Leanardo Ghiraldini also seems to have rediscovered his mojo at hooker. Biggest Challenge: Scoring more tries and relying less on Sergio Parisse. Rising star: Seb Negri, pictured Odds to win: 1000/1

Namibia (22): Last ten games: WWWLLWWWWW Coach: Phil Davies Captain: Johan Deysel Qualified from the African Championship at a canter being much too strong for all-comers with Kenya posing the only meaningful opposition. At times undoubtedly showed more flair than in past years behind the scrum and have found a real talent in openside Janco Venter, who is to join Jersey. Their big problem though remains their lack of exposure to top teams – they haven’t played a T1 nation since RWC2015. Biggest challenge: Developing their back play without sacrificing forward power. Rising star: Janco Venter, pictured Odds to win: 5000/1

Repechage Winner: One of Canada, Kenya, Hong Kong or Germany. Canada have never failed to qualify for the finals but were someway off the pace in January when comfortably beaten by Uruguay in the Americas 3 play-off. Kenya finished runners up to Namibia in Africa, Hong Kong are building nicely and could be the surprise package in the repechage in Marseilles while an extraordinary chain of events has seen Germany, who initially finished bottom of EN1, have an unexpected shot at glory. Odds to win: 6000/1

POOL C

England (4): Last ten games: WWWWLLLLLW Coach: Eddie Jones Captain: Dylan Hartley Roller coaster last year saw England mark time in the Autumn Internationals before going into a steep decline in the Six Nations and the opening two Tests in South Africa. That final win in Cape Town stopped the rot and now we wait to see which England turn up for a very demanding November. Chris Ashton seems back in favour and probably Danny Cipriani as well despite testing Eddie Jones’ patience. Biggest challenge: Finalising their back row and getting more out of talented but misfiring backs. Rising star: Tom Curry, pictured Odds to win: 6/1

France (8): Last ten games: LDLLWWLLLL Coach: Jacques Brunel Captain: Ghuilem Guiardo There has definitely been a sea change with France under Jacques Brunel showing more attitude. Were whitewashed in New Zealand this summer but played well at times and came off worse with some big decisions. Have an outstanding generation coming through with their exceptional JWC winning side from June. Biggest challenge: Rediscovering their old mongrel up front and taking off the handbreak behind the scrums. Rising star: Cameron Woki, pictured Odds to win: 20/1

Argentina (9): Last ten games: LWLLLLLWLW Coach: Mario Ledesma Captain: Gus Creevy An abysmal last year until just recently when the Pumas have caught fire with sensational wins over South Africa and Australia, and honour in defeat against New Zealand. Argentina are good at peaking for World Cups and they might just be timing it right again. Their scrummaging has declined worryingly but in the absence of Tuculet (injured), Imhoff and Cordero (playing in Europe) they have unearthed another world class back three in Boffelli, Moyano and Duguy. Biggest challenge: Timing. Can they, yet again, peak for a RWC? Rising star: Bautista Delguy, pictured Odds to win: 33/1

USA (15): Last ten games: WWLWWWWWWW Coach: Gary Gould Captain: Blaine Scully The Eagles are beginning to do themselves justice with the highlights this year a home win over Scotland and a crushing win over old rivals Uruguay in Montevideo. Strength in depth and fitness has underpinned their improvement and that is down to a record number of 13 professionals based in Europe and the newly formed seven-team Major League Rugby which offers a professional outlet for homebased rugby players. Biggest challenge: Need a stronger fixture list. Rising star: Joe Taufete’e, pictured Odds to win: 1000/1

Tonga (12): Last ten games: WWLWLLWLWW Coach: Toutai Kefu Captain: Siali Piutau After providing world class players for other national teams, Tonga are making an impact themselves. Top dogs in the Pacific this year with victories over Fiji and Samoa they now have a squad who are committed fully to the cause. Backs like Telusa Veainu, Cooper Vuna, David Halaifonua and Siali Piutau can really damage sides. Biggest challenge: Convincing World Rugby to let Charles Piutau play! Rising star: Valentino Mapapalangi, pictured. Odds to win: 1000/1

POOL D

Australia (5): Last ten games: WLLWLLLLWL Coach: Michael Cheika Captain: Michael Hooper Inconsistent but, like Argentina, usually get their act together in the run-in to a World Cup. Its been a very mixed picture though – it’s only a year ago they inflicted a rare defeat on the All Blacks but they failed to impress in Europe in the Autumn and lost their three-match series against Ireland in the summer. David Pocock and Michael Hooper need some back-up and Cheika needs to decide where to play Kurtley Beale for maximum effect.Biggest challenge: Australia are not producing the innovative and damaging backplay of old. Rising star: Taniela Tupou, pictured Odds to win: 8/1

Wales (3): Last ten games: LWWLLWWWWW Coach: Warren Gatland Captain: Alun Wyn Jones Building nicely. Endured the usual middling Autumn but despite a raft of big-name injuries were very nearly at their best in the Six Nations and then enjoyed the huge boost of pulling off an impressive series win in Argentina while trying out a number of players. Unbelievable strength in depth in the back row, Gareth Anscombe has proved his worth and Gareth Davies has blossomed at scrum-half in the absence of Rhys Webb. Biggest challenge: Keeping key players such as Jonathan Davies and Taulupe Faletau free from injury and match fit. Rising star: Ellis Jenkins, pictured Odds to win: 16/1

Georgia (13): Last ten games: LWWWWWWWLL Coach: Milton Haig Captain: Giorgi Nemsadze Quite a difficult year for the Lelos. The European Nations Cup – when they were unbeaten – was of little real use with the opponents often putting out weakened teams, saving their better players for the games that counted towards World Cup qualifying. They will be pleased their win against Tonga in Suva and a strong showing against Wales in Cardiff and have generally used the last 12 months to get all their squad involved. Biggest Challenge: Georgia has a couple of standout backs at the JWC - can they come through in time? Rising star: Vasil Lobzhanidze, pictured Odds to win: 1000/1

Fiji (10): Last ten games: WWWWLLWWWL Coach: John McKee Captain: Akapusi Qera All the big names are on board and Fiji could potentially field their best back division in history which would be a sight to behold. Qualified impressively last summer by winning the Pacific Nations Championship and enjoyed a fine win over Scotland but their defeat against Italy in Catania again showed how they can be outplayed and outmuscled up front. Biggest Challenge: Still need to find a couple of tight forwards with some grunt as well running skills. Could also do with unearthing another scrum-half. Rising star: Josua Tuisova, pictured Odds to win: 500/1

Uruguay (18): Last ten games: WWWWLWLWWW Coach: Estaban Meneses Captain: Juan Manuel Gaminara Uruguay have been putting lots of miles on the clock and qualified impressively with back-to-back wins over Canada. A double over Namibia in Windhoek was also a fine performance as was a win over an Argentina XV. They will be less happy though with a 60-19 thumping at home against the USA when fatigue perhaps caught up with them. All their best home players are now semi-professional and based at the National Academy. Biggest Challenge: Like most T2 nations badly need more exposure to T1 opposition. Rising star: Santiago Arata Odds to win: 5000/1