By BRYN PALMER SCOTLAND Coach: Gregor Townsend Captain: Finn Russell IF Scotland are to cause a sensation on the opening weekend of the World Cup […]

By BEN JAYCOCK TONGA Coach: Toutai Kefu Captain: Sonatane Takulua TONGA are one of the biggest benefactors out of the change in World Rugby eligibility […]

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER SOUTH AFRICA Coach: Jacques Nienaber Captain: Siya Kolisi The bookies may still marginally favour hosts France and Rugby Championship winners New Zealand […]

By PAUL REES AUSTRALIA Coach: Eddie Jones Captain: Will Skelton EDDIE Jones does not stay down for long. England’s former head coach may still be […]

By BEN JAYCOCK Coach: Simon Raiwalui Captain: Waisea Nayacalevu After stunning Twickenham last weekend, Fiji will be confident of making their third World Cup quarter-final. […]

By PAUL REES WALES Coach: Warren Gatland Co-captains: Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake One of the more interested spectators at England’s tussle with Fiji last […]

By BRENDAN GALLGHER GGEORGIA Coach: Levan Maisashvili Captain: Merab Sharikadze Georgia have become a permanent fixture at the Rugby World Cup with this their sixth […]

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER PORTUGAL Coach: Patrice Lagisquet Captain: Tomas Appleton AS you might expect from a team coached by the Bayonne Express Patrice Lagisquet, Portugal […]

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER ARGENTINA Coach: Michael Cheika Captain: Julian Montoya Conventional wisdom has it that the Pumas, at least in modern times, make a splash […]

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER CHILE Coach: Pablo Lemoine Captain: Martin Sigren RUGBY can be a game of soaring highs and lows, especially minnows such as Chile […]

By PAUL REES ENGLAND Coach: Steve Borthwick Captain: Owen Farrell Never mind swinging low, those steering England’s chariot are aiming low – and missing. Approaching […]

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER SAMOA Coach: Seilala Mapusua Co-captains: Chris Vui and Michael Ala’alatoa ARE SAMOA about to make some noise again? The islanders have a […]

By BEN JAYCOCK JAPAN Coach: Jamie Joseph Captain: Michael Leitch Japan are appearing at their 11th tournament, with their best ever performance coming in 2019, […]

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… France v Australia Today. Kick-off 5.45pm (4.45pm UK time), Stade de France FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie has gone full throttle […]

By NICK POWELL Italy……………… 42 Japan……………. 21 Italy continued their excellent preparation for the World Cup as Monty Ioane scored a terrific hat-trick against Japan. […]

Spain …………….. 3 Argentina ……62 ARGENTINA ended their World Cup preparation on a bright note as they saw off Spain with a nine-try victory. Juan […]

Damian Willemse was delighted to have got revenge for the Springboks humbling by the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship and says it gives his […]

Ireland 17-13 Samoa By GARY FITZGERALD CIAN Healy dealt Andy Farrell a big World Cup blow as the veteran prop sustained a bad injury at […]

By TOM WRIGHT Italy……………….57 Romania ………… 7 Ange Capuozzo scored two tries on his return from injury as Italy demolished 14-man Romania at Stadio Riviera […]

By BEN JAYCOCK France……………………. 34pts Tries: Mauvaka 29, Atonio 39, Macalou 59 Conversions: Jaminet 30, 60 Penalties: Jaminet 5, 7, 10, 42, 71 Fiji……………………………17pts Tries: […]

Georgia………………..22 USA………………………… 7 Georgia  eased past the USA yesterday in their second warm-up for this year’s World Cup. Fly-half Luka Matkava kicked seven points for […]

Uruguay…………33 Argentina XV .. 13 Uruguay completed their warm-ups with a fine win on Friday, their third in a row at the Estadio Charrúa after […]

Talismanic back row Michael Leitch and hooker Shota Horie will travel to their fourth World Cup after being named in the Japan squad. Leitch, who […]

Chile’s RWC squad includes four sets of brothers – atournament first. Los Cóndores have named Alfonso and Diego Escobar, Matías and Nicolás Garafulic, Santiago and […]