Leader: Jonathan Davies has stepped up to help shape the attack in Rob Howley’s absence PICTURE: Getty Images THIS Welsh squad keep being put through […]

By NICK CAIN Leap: Pieter-Steph du Toit scores for South Africa Scintillating: New Zealand’s George Bridge scores their first try after a flowing move Mesmeric: […]

GEORGIA Hero: Mamuka Gorgodze FORWARDS coach Graham Rowntree is backing his Lelos pack to leave their mark. Georgia enjoyed a fine RWC2015 with wins over […]

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Pivitol for Wales: Hadleigh Parkes PICTURE: Getty Images I SPENT THREE seasons playing rugby in Japan, so I’d like […]

NEW ZEALAND POOL B Perfect ten: Richie Mo’unga will start at fly-half for the All Blacks with Beauden Barrett at full-back PICTURE: Gety Images Squad: […]

RUSSIA is a mighty sporting nation and you sometimes wonder why more of their raw talent isn’t attracted to rugby. Athletic prop Kirill Gotovtsev, left, […]

NAMIBIA THE Namibians have conceded 1,148 points in their 19 World Cup games over the years with their goodnatured if doomed defiance becoming part of […]

By RAYMOND WILSON SOUTH AFRICA Under investigation: Second row Eben Etzebeth PROSECUTORS in South Africa are investigating if Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was involved in […]

ITALY Trust in the world’s No.1 mouthguard brand www.shockdoctor.co.uk Parting shot: Sergio Parisse is one of the Italy legends about to retire ITALY are gunning […]

Nick Cain predicts England will reach the semi-final – but then what? Read on… Expert tutelage: John McKee has improved Fiji’s set-piece THE popular opinion […]

FRANCE POOL C Dangerman: Alivereti Raka FRANCE kick off their Pool action against Argentina and play the United States and Tonga before facing England – […]

ENGLAND By NICK CAIN Uncertainty at the back: Elliot Daly could be replaced at No.15 by Anthony Watson, right PICTURE: Getty Images Options: Eddie Jones […]

ARGENTINA Lone wolf: Juan Figallo ARGENTINA have dropped to 11th in the world rankings following nine consecutive Test defeats – but head coach Mario Ledesma […]

USA A WAVE of renewed hope, optimism and almost expectation is sweeping the sport across the Pond following the success of the newly formed Major […]

TONGA TONGA have been strangled by a Pool stage hoodoo since making their World Cup debut 32 years ago and the rugby gods failed to […]

FIJI Leading light: Fji wing Josua Tuisova COACH John McKee has had his work cut out travelling the globe to visit and talk to his […]

AUSTRALIA By TRP REPORTER Swansong: Wallaby back row David Pocock will retire after Japan POOL D AUSTRALIA put 47 points – and six tries – […]

URUGUAY Venerated: Rodrigo Capo-Ortega is back at age of 39 FOUR years on and nothing much changes for Uruguay in terms of World Cup prospects. […]

By STEFFAN THOMAS WALES Big expectations: Wales back row star Josh Navidi PICTURE: Getty Images JOSH Navidi is relishing the prospect of his first World […]

ELLIS Genge has been helping to keep a young prop on the straight and narrow by learning from the mistakes the England loose-head made during […]

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Injury prone: A fit Johnny Sexton is a game-changer for Ireland PICTURE: Getty Images WITHOUT wanting to put […]

■ By GARY FITZGERALD Back in action: David Pocock DAVID Pocock insists the Wallabies are in prime shape to win a first Webb Ellis Cup […]

MICHAEL Cheika rested regular skipper, and openside, Michael Hooper to give David Pocock a run in tandem with No.8 Jack Dempsey, who was also returning […]

■ By PETER JACKSON Working the space: Rob Kearney goes over for Ireland PICTURES: Getty Images THROUGHOUT all the ups and downs of his mountainous […]

Fighting fit: Glen Young’s dad was a boxer HARLEQUINS second row signing Glen Young hopes his pugilistic pedigree will come to the fore as he […]

By NEALE HARVEY Colleague: Tomas Lavanini High riser: Calum Green wins a lineout for Newcastle PICTURES: Getty Images LINEOUT king Calum Green aims to bring […]

LONDON Irish coach Brad Davis insists the club’s band of promising youngsters will not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency after the acquisition of […]

Killer pass: Kyle Sinckler combined power in the set piece with subtlety in attack PICTURE: Getty Images ENGLAND’S performance against Ireland last weekend was hugely […]