Scotland, Ireland, japan, Samoa and Russia face off with both sides that are highest-ranked – Ireland and Scotland – facing each other.
Four decades ago, Japan stunned the world by defeating South Africa in England. They will host the showpiece of rugby and seem to make a this month.
Below we take a peek at each state’s 31-man squad, decide on an integral player to concentrate on, go through current form and provide all the pool fixtures…
Head coach: Joe Schmidt
Captain: Rory Best (120 caps)
Previous 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 most important and constant performer within the Ireland squad. His work in the loose and at ruck time is critical both to sets and Ireland’s attacking phase drama. Together with Devin Toner omitted in the squad, Ryan will have to step at the lineout.
Present form: Curiously enough, Ireland head to the World Cup since the No 1 ranked side in the entire world for the very first time in history, despite enduring a far tougher 2019 compared to 2018. Last year saw them conquer all before them since they conquer the All Blacks and won a Six Nations Grand Slam. This season, they’ve suffered heavy defeats to Wales and England (twice), using their general form and confidence rocked. Their final Cup triumph over Wales in Dublin will offer them a pep in their step heading to Japan and was remarkable though.
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 coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Stuart McInally (29 Tests)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Semi-finals (1991)
Key player: Finn Russell. Scotland hard to contain and are a side to guard from, when Russell is online form. His speed, passing capability off either hand and propensity to step through the lineup make him a assaulting danger. The sort of maverick gift he is means that when he’s away from his game, thus also always are Scotland.
Current form: somewhat like Ireland, Scotland will return on 2018 more lovingly than 2019. At the former, they beat England, France, Argentina (home and away) and Fiji, while also providing the Springboks a fantastic go. In 2019, they’ve dropped to Ireland, France and Wales, while also drawing with England from the jaws of a victory at Twickenham. In the warm-ups, matters could not have started worse using a reduction in France, but they recovered to beat France in the home and Georgia house and away. All in all is a mixed bag.
31-man 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)
Past Rugby World Cup best: Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Key player: Michael Leitch. Not their skipper, Leitch is the best player of Japan, together with standard work excellent, breakdown skills and his match. Hehas been central in the decision making four years ago to discount the prospect of a draw to get a shot at beating against the Boks, and’s a leader for this squad – the upset the game has ever noticed.
Form: In truth, the form during the last 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 Zealand, England and South Africa – however there’s absolutely not any shame in defeat perhaps the three World Cup favourites – although having dropped in another Test against Italy. They have defeated Tonga Fiji, Georgia, Russia and Italy. Will they jolt Ireland and Scotland?
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 have to listen to Pat Lam and Eddie Jones talk to understand. Indeed, the phrase’world class’ has been used. Power and hands, he is a superb player.
Current form: Not excellent. Over the past two decades, the nations they have beaten are Germany, Spain and Tonga. They’ve dropped to Fiji (double ), Tonga, Georgia, the USA (double ) and also Australia. But with the majority of their Europe-based players in today, they might come alive this World Cup.
World Cup group:
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)
Previous Rugby World Cup best: Pool point (2011)
Key participant: Andrei Ostrikov. The lock is just one of only two Russia gamers and has experience of performing for Sale Sharks in England and Agen in France in which he featured between 2011 and 2019. He has signed for the season for Top 14 club Grenoble.
Present form: This month’s showpiece is only going to be the second World Cup involvement of Russia, having featured without success in 2011, failing to qualify in 2015. Their form is abysmal, having shipped 85 points to Italy in the build-up, and dropped to the likes of Jersey Reds and Connacht. They open the championship against Japan on Friday September 20.
31-man World Cup group:
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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