Scotland, Ireland, japan, Samoa and Russia confront together with the two highest-ranked sides, in Pool A – Ireland and Scotland – confronting each other.
Four decades back, Japan shocked the world by beating South Africa in England about the greatest stage of all. They will sponsor the showpiece of rugby and look to create a first quarter-final this month.
Below we have a peek at every country’s 31-man squad, pick an integral player to concentrate on, go through current form and bring you all the pool’s fittings…
Head coach: Joe Schmidt
Captain: Rory Best (120 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Quarter-finals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015)
Key player: James Ryan. Even the 23-year-old next row has grown into the performer within the Ireland squad. His work in the loose and at ruck time is crucial both to Ireland’s attacking phase play and sets. Together with Devin Toner Ryan will have to measure up more in the lineout.
Present form Ireland head into the World Cup since the No 1 rated side in the entire world for the very first time, despite enduring a far tougher 2019 than 2018. Last year saw them conquer all since they gained series success in Australia, a Six Nations Grand Slam and beat the All Blacks at Dublin. This season, they have endured heavy beats to Wales and England (twice), using their overall form and confidence rocked. Their final Cup triumph over Wales in Dublin was impressive though and will provide them a pep in their step heading into Japan.
World Cup squad:
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 trainer: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Stuart McInally (29 Tests)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Semi-finals (1991)
Key participant: Finn Russell. Scotland hard to contain and really are a really dangerous side, when Russell is on shape. His pace, passing capability off either hand and propensity to step through the line make him a assaulting danger. The kind of maverick gift he is means that when he is off his game, so too invariably are Scotland.
Current form: A bit like Ireland, Scotland will look back on 2018 more fondly than 2019. At the formerthey conquer England, France, Argentina (home and away) and Fiji, while also providing the Springboks a fantastic go. While also drawing from the jaws of a 38-38 victory at Twickenham England to Wales, France and Ireland, they’ve lost in 2019. Using a demoralising 32-3 loss in France, things couldn’t have started worse in the warm-ups, but they recovered to beat France in the Georgia and home home and off. All in all, their form is really a mixed bag.
World Cup group:
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)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Key participant: Michael Leitch. Not their skipper, but Leitch is Japan’s best player, together with breakdown skills, his offloading match and basic work superb. Hewas fundamental in the decision making to discount the possibility of a draw for a shot at beating against the Boks, and’s a key leader for this particular group – that the upset the sport has ever seen.
Current form: Actually, the form over the past few years against Tier 1 opposition of Japan does not make for excellent reading. Tavern one victory over Italy they have been beaten by New England Zealand and South Africa – although there’s no shame in defeat – although having lost in another Test. They’ve defeated Tonga Fiji, Georgia, Russia and Italy. Will Scotland and Ireland jolt?
31-man World Cup group:
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 only have to hear Pat Lam and Eddie Jones speak about Vui to know the talent that the lock possesses. Indeed, the phrase’world class’ has been employed. Dexterous hands and Electricity, he’s a superb player.
Form: Not great. Over the previous two years, the only countries they have defeated have been Tonga, Spain and Germany. They’ve lost to Fiji (twice), Tonga, Georgia, the USA (double ) and also Australia. But with most of their players in today, they could come with this World Cup.
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 coach: Lyn Jones
Captain: Vasily Artemyev (88 caps)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Pool point (2011)
Key player: Andrei Ostrikov. The lock has experience of doing for Agen in France and Sale Sharks in England in which he showcased between 2011 and 2019, and is just one of just two Russia players to ply their trade outside the country. He’s signed for Top 14 club Grenoble for the coming season.
Current form: Last month’s showpiece will be the next World Cup involvement of Russia, having featured without success in 2011, failing to be eligible in 2015. Their kind is quite abysmal, with shipped 85 points into Italy in the build-up, and dropped to the likes of Jersey Reds and Connacht. September 20, they open the championship from Japan on Friday.
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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