WORLD CUP FORM GUIDE

WALES

THE team to beat. Warren Gatland has steered them to 14 straight victories and their squad is loaded with experience and stability and has more depth than at the last World Cup. The return of the injured Toby Faletau and exiled Rhys Webb will add firepower. NEXT GAME — Aug 2: England (a). WORLD CUP OPENER — Sep 23: Georgia.

ENGLAND

NO shortage of attacking flair after scoring 24 tries, their highest in Six Nations history, but coach Eddie Jones must address mental frailties following two second-half meltdowns. The return of Anthony Watson, Mako Vunipola and Maro Itoje will provide welcome experience. NEXT GAME — Aug 2: Wales (h). WC OPENER — Sep 22: Tonga.

IRELAND

JOE SCHMIDT’S masterplan has unravelled. Ireland failed to deal with the favourites tag after beating the All Blacks and being named world team of the year. The likes of Rory Best, 36, and Sean O’Brien, 32, look beyond their best but never write off Johnny Sexton. NEXT GAME — Aug 10: Italy (h). WC OPENER — Sep 22: Scotland.

FRANCE

PLENTY of youth coming through the ranks but perhaps not in time for the World Cup. Demba Bamba, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Damien Penaud have huge potential with the right leadership but coach Jacques Brunel appears to be past his sell-by-date. NEXT GAME — Aug 17: Scotland (tbc). WC OPENER — Sep 21: Argentina.

SCOTLAND

BELIEF will be restored after the Calcutta Cup comeback but the depth of the squad has been exposed and they could struggle at the World Cup. Stuart Hogg and John Barclay should return, while the emergence of Darcy Graham and Sam Johnson has added to their artillery. NEXT GAME — Aug 17: France (tbc). WC OPENER — Sep 22: Ireland.

ITALY

ANOTHER year, another whitewash. The great Sergio Parisse is approaching retirement and no longer carries the team on his own. Coach Conor O’Shea remains positive but he has failed to transfer the improvements of Italian clubs to the Test stage. NEXT GAME — Aug 10: Ireland (a). WC OPENER — Sep 22: Namibia.