Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A preview – Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Samoa, Russia

Ireland, japan, Scotland, Samoa and Russia confront with the two sides that are highest-ranked – Ireland and Scotland – facing each other.
Four years back, the world shocked by defeating South Africa in England. They will sponsor rugby’s showpiece and look to create a.
Below we have a peek at each country’s 31-man squad, decide on a key participant to focus on, go through present form and provide all of the pool’s fixtures…
Head coach: Joe Schmidt
Captain: Rory Best (120 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Quarter-finals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015)
Key participant: James Ryan. The row has grown into the performer in the Ireland squad. His work at the in ruck and loose time is crucial to the attacking phase play and defensive sets of Ireland. Together with Devin Toner Ryan will have to measure up more in the lineout.
Present form Ireland head to the World Cup because the No 1 ranked side in the entire world for the very first time despite enduring a much tougher 2019 than 2018. Last year saw them beat all before them as they gained string success in Australia, a Six Nations Grand Slam and conquer the All Blacks at Dublin. This season, they’ve suffered heavy defeats to Wales and England (twice), with their overall form and optimism rocked. Their final Cup triumph over Wales in Dublin will provide them a pep in their step and was remarkable though.
31-man World Cup group:
Forwards (17): Rory Best (c), Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne, Iain Henderson, Jean Kleyn Peter O’Mahony Andrew Porter, Rhys Ruddock, James Ryan, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier.
Backs (14): Bundee Aki, Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Robbie Henshaw, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Luke McGrath, Conor Murray, Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Sexton, Jacob Stockdale.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Stuart McInally (29 Tests)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Semi-finals (1991)
Key player: Finn Russell. When Russell is on shape, Scotland are a dangerous side and hard to contain. His pace, passing capability off either propensity and hand to measure the lineup make him a fantastic danger. The type of maverick talent that he is means when he is off his game too are Scotland.
Present form: A bit like Ireland, Scotland will look back on 2018 more lovingly than 2019. In the formerthey conquer England, France, Argentina (home and away) and Fiji, while also providing the Springboks a good go. While also drawing from the jaws of a victory at Twickenham England in 2019, they have dropped to Wales, France and Ireland. From the warm-ups, matters couldn’t have started worse using a reduction in France, but they recovered to beat France at home and Georgia home and away. All in all is really a mixed bag.
31-man World Cup squad:
Forwards (17): John Barclay, Simon Berghan, Fraser Brown, Scott Cummings, Allan Dell, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Stuart McInally (c), WP Nel, Gordon Reid, Jamie Ritchie, Blade Thomson, Ben Toolis, George Turner, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson.
Backs (14): Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Adam Hastings, Stuart Hogg, George Horne, Peter Horne, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Maitland, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour, Duncan Taylor.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Jamie Joseph
Captain: Michael Leitch (62 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Pool point (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Key participant: Michael Leitch. Not their skipper, but Leitch is the best player of Japan, with breakdown skills, his match and general work ethic excellent. He’s an integral leader with this group, and was fundamental in the decision making to dismiss the prospect of a draw for a shot – the upset the sport has ever witnessed.
Form: Actually, the form during the last couple of years past Tier 1 resistance of Japan does not make for excellent reading. Bar one victory over Italy at Oita in 2018, they have been soundly beaten by New Zealand, England and South Africa – though there’s no shame in defeat perhaps the three World Cup favourites – while having dropped in a different Test against Italy. They’ve beaten Fiji, Tonga, Georgia, Russia and Italy. Can Scotland and Ireland jolt?
31-man World Cup squad:
Forwards (18): Michael Leitch (c), Keita Inagaki, Yusuke Kizu, Jiwon Koo, Isileli Nakajima, Asaeli Valu, Takuya Kitade, Atsushi Sakate, Shota Horie, Luke Thompson, Wimpie van der Walt, Uwe Helu, James Moore, Hendrik Tui, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno, Amanaki Mafi.
Backs (13): Kaito Shigeno, Fumiaki Tanaka, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Rikiya Matsuda, Kenki Fukuoka, Ataata Moeakiola, Lomano Lemeki, William Tupou, Ryoto Nakamura, Timothy Lafaele, Kotaro Matsushima, Ryohei Yamanaka.
Fixtures:
Head coach: Steve Jackson
Captain: Chris Vui (14 caps)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Quarter-finals (1991, 1995)
Key player: Chris Vui. You need to listen to Pat Lam and Eddie Jones speak about Vui to understand. Indeed, the phrase’world class’ has even been used. Electricity and hands, he is a player.
Form: Not great. Over the past two years, the only countries they have defeated are Tonga, Spain and Germany. They’ve lost to Fiji (twice), Tonga, Georgia, the USA (double ) and Australia. However, with the majority of the Europe-based players in today, they might come alive with this World Cup.
31-man World Cup squad:
Forwards (17): Afaesetiti Amosa, TJ Ioane, Jack Lam, Piula Fa’asalele, Josh Tyrell, Chris Vui (c), Teofilo Paulo, Kane Leaupepe, Senio Toleafoa, Michael Alaalatoa, Paul Alo-Emile, James Lay, Jordan Lay, Logovi’i Mulipola, Motu Matu’u, Ray Niuia, Seilala Lam.
Backs (14): Ed Fidow, Tim Nanai-Williams, Ahsee Tuala, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Henry Taefu, Alapati Leiua, Reynold Lee-Lo, Kieron Fonotia, AJ Atatimu, Tusi Pisi, Ulupano Seuteni, Dwayne Polotaivao, Melani Matavao, Scott Malolua.
Fixtures:
Head trainer: Lyn Jones
Captain: Vasily Artemyev (88 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Pool stage (2011)
Key player: Andrei Ostrikov. The lock has experience of performing for Agen in France and Sale Sharks in England where he featured between 2011 and 2019, also is one of just two Russia gamers to ply their trade out the nation. He has signed for the coming year for Top 14 club Grenoble.
Present form: ” This month’s showpiece will be Russia’s second World Cup involvement, having previously featured in 2011 without success, failing to be eligible in 2015. Their form lost to the likes of Jersey Reds and Connacht, and is abysmal, having sent 85 points to Italy from the build-up. September 20, they start the championship from Japan on Friday.
31-man World Cup squad:
Forwards (18): Azamat Bitiev, Andrey Garbuzov, Kirill Gotovtsev, Victor Gresev, Bogdan Fedotko, Vitaliy Zhivatov, Evgeny Matveev, Andrey Polivalov, Vladimir Podrezov, Evgeny Yelgin, Stanislav Selsky, Nikita Vavilin, Sergey Chernyshev, Tagir Gadzhiev, Roman Khodin, Andrei Ostrikov, Valery Morozov, Anton Sychev.
Backs (13): Vasily Artemyev (c), Igor Galinovsky, Kirill Golosnitsky, Vasily Dorofeev, Yuri Kushnarev, German Davydov, Dmitry Perov, Vladislav Sozonov, Dmitry Gerasimov, Ramil Gaysin, Denis Simplikevich, Vladimir Ostroushko, Sergey Yanyushkin.
Fixtures:

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