PAUL GRAYSON’S GUIDE TO HOME NATION HOPES
SCOTLAND
England to win the Rugby World Cup See left
Billy Vunipola. World-class carrier who gives England go-forward against any opposition. Injury-prone so keeping him fit and on the park will be near to the top of Eddie Jones’ wishlist. 8 (out of 10)
World No.1 ranked nation yet given no chance. That suits them just fine. Loved life until going from hunters to the hunted. When that balance shifted their mentality shifted too. An incredible 2018 gave way to a dismal
2019. Beating Wales home and away in last two outings has given them renewed hope.
Should win Pool D but their Lions will have to roar to give them any chance against New
Zealand or South Africa in quarter-finals.
Rory Best. If Ireland are to do anything they need a functioning lineout, so it is an issue that they’ve picked a lineout without their biggest jumper, Devin Toner. That puts pressure on Best to hit his targets. WORLD CUP THREAT RATING: 7
Ten seconds from semi-finals in
2015, about the same from beating England at Twickenham in this year’s Six Nations.
Close but no cigar – which pretty well sums up Scotland since the turn of the century. In same pool as Ireland, who they play first, it is possible to see them winning that, but not getting past quarter-finals.
Finn Russell. Absolutely central to everything they do in attack. Scots committed to playing fast, counter-attack, ruck-and-run rugby. They have to be smart and make sure teams physically bigger can’t get a grip of them. Over to you, Finn. 5
Strong chance. Top-ranked nation in their pool and with a likely quarter-final against France or Argentina awaiting them, a last-four spot should be the minimum goal for
Warren Gatland’s men.
George North. A genuine game breaker who is back to near his ferocious best after those dreadful years battling concussion symptoms, when he looked to have fallen out of love with the game through not knowing what it was doing to him. WORLD CUP THREAT RATING: 7.5
New Zealand and South Africa are drawn in same pool and regardless of result when they clash on Saturday, nobody will be surprised to see them return to the same stadium on November 2 to contest the final.
WORLD CUP THREAT RATING: New Zealand 9, Sth Africa 8