SCOTLAND

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: POOLS

COACH: GREGOR TOWNSEND CAPTAIN: JAMIE RITCHIE

WEBSITE: www.scottishrugby.org

WORLD RANKING: 5TH TAB ODDS: $61.00

Scotland’s form over the last 18 months has been very encouraging. Victories over Fiji and Argentina were followed by narrow defeats to New Zealand and Australia. Six Nations wins over England, Wales and Italy this year have home fans quietly confident their team will do well in France. But the draw has not been so kind. Coach Gregor Townsend’s men are part of a tough Pool B that features Ireland, defending world champions South Africa, Romania and Tonga. So, Scotland will need to finish above one of the pre-tournament favourites to proceed through to the quarter-finals. There will be no shortage of motivation for the Scots after their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign saw the team sent home early after losses to Ireland and Japan.

Scotland’s backs have oodles of class and the ability to score tries from anywhere. Burly winger Duhan van der Merwe’s match-winner against England at Twickenham in this year’s Six Nations was arguably the try of the tournament and an example of what Scotland are capable of. The backline director is the brilliant Finn Russell, who has not always seen eye-to-eye with coach Townsend. He is capable of cutting apart any defensive line and is highly unpredictable. Midfielders Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones are a handful for any opposition. Mercurial fullback Stuart Hogg has retired ahead of the tournament so will be sorely missed.

The forwards are not the biggest but have plenty of skilful ball players and that renowned Scottish determination. Flanker Rory Darge and winger Darcy Graham return to the squad after injury, while impressive loose forward Jamie Ritchie captains the team. Hooker Stuart McInally, set to retire after the tournament, is another with plenty of motivation to perform.

Tonga

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: POOLS

COACH: TOUTAI KEFU CAPTAIN: SOLOMONE FUNAKI

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/tongarugbyofficial WORLD RANKING: 15TH TAB ODDS: $1001.00

Tonga is one of the teams competing in France to benefit from a change in World Rugby’s eligibility regulations. Former All Blacks George Moala, Malakai Fekitoa, Augustine Pulu, Vaea Fifita and Charles Piutau will add international experience and class, alongside former Wallaby reps Israel Folau and Adam Coleman, plus former All Blacks Sevens star Pita Ahki.

Head coach Toutai Kefu is encouraged by the depth of talent at his disposal and the number of Moana Pasifika players who have benefited greatly from playing in Super Rugby Pacific.

“We are going to take a good portion of those Tongan players from Moana to the World Cup and those players we’ve watched closely over the last two years have improved significantly,” he said.

“We’re going to have a really good team, probably the best ever. We have got some X-factors and I think we just need to come up with a really good game plan and a blueprint to win.”

Moana Pasifika’s 2023 captain Solomone Funaki is a tough loose forward and one of the best defenders in the game. Other Moana Pasifika players to watch out for in France are props Abraham Pole and Sosefo Apikotoa, wingers Tima Fainga’anuku and Fine Inisi, flanker Penitoa Finau and fullback William Havili.

Tonga, known as Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles), will take part in their ninth tournament in France after beating Hong Kong during the Asia/Pacific 1 qualifying play-off. They are in Pool B, alongside defending champions South Africa along with Ireland, Scotland and Romania. A famous victory over France in 2011 is Tonga’s Rugby World Cup highlight to date, having yet to get past pool play.

Romania

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: DID NOT COMPETE AT RWC 2019 IN JAPAN

COACH: EUGEN APJOK CAPTAIN: MIHAI MACOVEI

WEBSITE: https://rugbyromania.ro

WORLD RANKING: 19TH TAB ODDS: $5001.00

Many rugby fans will be pleased to see the return of Romania to the Rugby World Cup finals in France. The Oaks, who had contested every tournament until missing Japan 2019, won their first-ever Rugby World Cup game in May 1987 against Zimbabwe 21–20. Since 1987, Romania has managed five more victories across seven tournament appearances against Fiji, USA, Namibia, Portugal and Canada..

While Romania has never made it beyond the pool stages, on only two occasions have they left Rugby World Cup for home without a win to their name – 1995 and 2011.

New coach Eugen Apjok replaced Englishman Andy Robinson this year. Apjok played three tests for Romania and made his name coaching Baia Mare to eight Romanian Premiership titles in 15 seasons.

He has prior experience with the Romanian national side. In 2011 he was an assistant coach, helping them qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He coached Romanian A from 2016–2019 before moving back to the national team as one of Robinson’s assistant coaches.

Romania was confident of doing well in this year’s Rugby Europe Championship after finishing second last year. They enjoyed wins over Belgium and Poland but lost to Portugal and had a crucial semi-final defeat to eventual champions, Georgia. Romania then clinched third place with a win over Spain.

Players to watch in France include captain Mihai Macovei, who became Romania’s fifth test centurion last year and will play at his third World Cup. No 8 Andre Gorin and fellow loose forward Cristian Chirica are powerful athletes, while halfback Gabriel Rapanu is a nippy runner from broken play. First-five Gabriel Pop is a class act with top kicking skills.