Rugby World Cup 2019: Who to watch and when to watch Pool A
Ireland are favourites to win the only pool that doesn’t feature a World Cup winner but host nation Japan will have the home support and Scotland can’t be written off.
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Pool A — Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Samoa, Russia
What to expect: Ireland have gone backwards since winning the Six Nations and beating New Zealand last year but should still win the pool.
On their day, Scotland are capable of challenging anyone but their inconsistency is a concern. They should still finish runner-up but face a tough challenge from the physical Samoans and the host-nation Japan, who have shown before they can produce big upsets.
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Match Dates: (AEST until Oct 6 when it becomes AEDT)
Friday, September 20
JAPAN v RUSSIA: 8.45pm at Tokyo Stadium
Sunday, September 22
IRELAND v SCOTLAND: 5.45pm at International Stadium, Yokohama
Tuesday, September 24
RUSSIA v SAMOA: 8.15pm at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
Saturday, September 28
JAPAN v IRELAND: 5.15pm at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa
Monday, September 30
SCOTLAND v SAMOA: 8.15pm at Kobe Misaki Stadium
Thursday, October 3
IRELAND v RUSSIA: 8.15pm at Kobe Misaki Stadium
Saturday, October 5
JAPAN v SAMOA: 8.30pm at City of Toyota Stadium
Wednesday, October 9
SCOTLAND v RUSSIA: 6.15pm at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa
Saturday, October 12
IRELAND v SAMOA: 9.45pm at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium
Sunday, October 13
JAPAN v SCOTLAND: 9.45pm at International Stadium, Yokohama
COMPLETE POOL BY POOL PREVIEWS
POOL A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Samoa, Russia
POOL B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Canada, Namibia
POOL C: England, Argentina, France, Tonga, USA
POOL D: Australia, Wales, Fiji, Georgia, Uruguay
Ireland
Best Finish: Quarterfinalists (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015)
Captain: Rory Best
Coach: Joe Schmidt
Betting: $13 to win the tournament, $1.22 to win the pool
History: Perennial World Cup underachievers who were minutes away from making the 1991 semis when Gordon Hamilton’s late try gave them a shock lead over Australia only to lose on the bell. They’ve been cursing their rotten luck ever since but have their best chance this time.
Player to watch: Johnny Sexton. The reigning World Player of the Year, when Sexton’s on song, Ireland usually win. Already Ireland’s second highest point scorer of all time, he could well get to the very top before he finishes up.
Forwards: Rory Best (capt), Niall Scannell, Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong, John Ryan, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Iain Henderson, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Rhys Ruddock
Backs: Conor Murray, Luke McGrath, Johnny Sexton, Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Chris Farrell, Jacob Stockdale, Rob Kearney, Keith Earls, Jordan Larmour, Andrew Conway
Our prediction: 1st. in pool
Scotland
Best Finish: 4th (1991)
Captain: Stuart McInally
Coach: Gregor Townsend
Betting: $67 to win the tournament, $5.25 to win the pool
History: Another regular underperformer on the big stage. Scotland hould have made the 1991 final but Gavin Hastings missed a simple penalty and England ended up going through instead. Nearly beat the Wallabies in the quarters four years ago but got an unlucky call and Australia escaped with a win.
Player to watch: Stuart Hogg. Fullback who can also play five-eighth, Hogg’s the most dangerous player in the Scottish side. A two-time Six Nations player of the year.
Forwards: John Barclay, Simon Berghan, Fraser Brown, Scott Cummings, Allan Dell, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel, Gordon Reid, Jamie Ritchie, Blade Thomson, Ben Toolis, George Turner, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson.
Backs: Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Adam Hastings, Stuart Hogg, George Horne, Pete Horne, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Maitland, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour, Duncan Taylor.
Our prediction: 2nd.
Japan
Best Finish: Pool stage
Captain: Michael Leitch
Coach: Jamie Joseph
Betting: $251 to win the tournament, $19 to win the pool
History: Won just one match at their first seven World Cup appearances before pulling off the biggest upset in tournament history by beating South Africa four years ago but still missed the quarters despite winning three pool games.
Player to watch: Amanaki Mafi. Powerful backrower who is still facing charges of assaulting his former Melbourne Rebels teammate Lopeti Timani. Gives Japan the go-forward they need on the field.
Forwards: Keita Inagaki, Yusuke Kizu, Koo Ji-won, Isileli Nakajima, Asaeli Ai Valu, Takuya Kitade, Atsushi Sakata, Shota Horie, Luke Thompson, Wimpie van der Walt, Uwe Helu, James Moore, Hendrik Tui, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Michael Leitch, Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno, Amanaki Mafi
Backs: 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
Our prediction: 3rd.
Samoa
Best Finish: Quarterfinalists (1991, 1995)
Captain: Jack Lam
Coach: Steve Jackson
Betting: $751 to win the tournament, $251 to win the pool
History: Famously beat Wales, when competing as Western Samoa, to make the quarters in 1991 and proved it was no fluke by doing it again in 1995 but haven’t made the playoffs since rugby turned professional.
Player to watch: Michael Alaalatoa. Older brother of Wallaby prop Allan and son of former Samoan Test star Vili. Plays for the Crusaders. Made his Test debut against Australia in Sydney.
Forwards: Afaesetiti Amosa, TJ Ioane, Jack Lam, Piula Fa’asalele, Josh Tyrell, Chris Vui, 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: 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.
Our prediction: 4th
Russia
Best Finish: Pool stage
Captain: Vasily Artemyev
Coach: Lyn Jones
Betting: $2,500 to win the tournament, $5,001 to win the pool
History: Making just their second appearance at the World Cup after losing all four pool matches in 2011.
Player to watch: Valery Morozov. One of a handful of Russians playing professionally in England’s club Premiership. A giant prop with a surprising turn of foot when he gets in clear space.
Forwards: Sergey Chernyshev, Evgeny Matveev, Stanislav Sel’skiy, Azamat Bitiev, Kirill Gotovtsev, Valery Morozov, Vladimir Podrezov, Andrey Polivalov, Evgeny Elgin, Bogdan Fedotko, Andrey Garbuzov, Andrei Ostrikov, Tagir Gadzhiev, Victor Gresev, Roman Khodin, Anton Sychev, Nikita Vavilin, Vitaly Zhivatov
Backs: Vasily Dorofeev, Dmitry Perov, Ramil Gaisin, Yuri Kushnarev, Sergey Yanyushkin, Igor Galinovskiy, Dmitry Gerasimov, Kirill Golosnitsky, Vladimir Ostroushko, German Davydov, Denis Simplikevich, Vladislav Sozonov, Vasily Artemyev
Our prediction:5th