Perhaps the most unpredictable pool, and potentially even the most entertaining, particularly for anyone hoping England suffer the ignominy of a second pool-stage exit in three tournaments.
Much has changed since the draw that pitted the losing finalists of 2019 against Argentina, Japan, Samoa and Chile. Then, soon after their progress to the final against South Africa, England were regarded as favourites to top the pool. Now, after a mismanaged and disrupted buildup in which Steve Borthwick’s side could scarcely have looked less convincing, their quarter-finals hopes look distinctly precarious.
Argentina, England’s opponents in Marseille on the opening weekend, have recorded a number of notable victories under Michael Cheika. In July, Juan Martín González’s late score brought a dramatic Rugby Championship victory against the Wallabies in Sydney, and Emiliano Boffelli booted 25 points in their win over England at Twickenham last November. The All Blacks were beaten on New Zealand soil for the first time last summer.
Santiago Carreras of Gloucester is one of 11 Premiership players in a 33-man squad that features just five props, with an extra back accommodated. Cheika, who nurtured a young Johnny Sexton at Leinster, is a shrewd and experienced operator who would relish another crack at his old Randwick mate Eddie Jones in a potential quarter-final against Australia. First he will attempt to outwit Borthwick, among others, and it’s clear the Pumas respond positively to the Australian’s forthright style.
Japan’s warm-up performances have not been encouraging; defeated by Italy, Fiji and Samoa, they mustered a narrow win against Tonga. Memories of their exhilarating performance four years ago remain fresh, however, when the hosts defeated Ireland and Scotland and topped their pool. It is also impossible to mention Japan without referencing their astonishing victory against South Africa in 2015. Michael Leitch led from the front that day, and the 34-year-old flanker and former captain is one of two veterans from the 2011 tournament, alongside the hooker Shota Horie.
Borthwick’s England gameplan looks simple, but he needs an overtly physical, supremely fit group to carry it out, and there has been little evidence recently that England possess those raw materials. Even then, it is questionable if set-piece solidity and kick-chase pressure will trouble the world’s best. The captain, Owen Farrell, is suspended for the first two matches after his red card against Wales; it will be interesting to see if the wily George Ford can generate momentum from fly-half, presuming Marcus Smith is not preferred.
Samoa pushed Ireland hard in their warm-up match in Bayonne, Andy Farrell’s side squeezing a 17-13 victory, and it appears the head coach, Seilala Mapusua, has made good use of extra time with his squad. It all spells danger for England. Chile’s path to their World Cup debut has been overseen by the former Uruguay and Stade Français prop Pablo Lemoine, who masterminded qualification wins against Canada and the USA. It will be a steep learning curve, but Rodrigo Fernández’s magnificent solo score against the USA last year is an indication of their talent.
Key match: England v Argentina
Defeat for either need not be terminal to their quarter-final hopes, but it will be all the more difficult for Steve Borthwick to kick-start England’s campaign if they succumb to an opening loss against the Pumas in Marseille. A high-pressure, high-stakes start.
England - world ranking 8
Head coach: Steve Borthwick Captain: Owen Farrell RWC best: winners 2003
Key player: With Farrell suspended for the games against Argentina and Japan, fly-half George Ford must step up.
We will never know what sort of shape England would be in had Eddie Jones not been sacked, but scant progress has been evident in the early stages of Steve Borthwick’s tenure. Leaky defensively and blunt in attack, the former Leicester coach’s side have also appeared physically underpowered at times. Throw in suspensions for Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola and it has been a challenging lead-in, to say the least. Can Borthwick get the best out of dangerous strike runners such as Manu Tuilagi and Henry Arundell? Something is clearly missing; England supporters are praying it will be all right on the night.
Forwards
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 45 caps), Theo Dan (Saracens, 1 cap), Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 49 caps),
Jamie George (Saracens, 77 caps), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 67 caps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 20 caps), Joe Marler (Harlequins, 79 caps)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps), David Ribbans (Toulon, 6 caps), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 3 caps), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 62 caps), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 26 caps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 68 caps), Jack Walker (Harlequins, 3 caps), Jack Willis (Toulouse, 10 caps)
Backs
Henry Arundell (Racing 92, 7 caps), Danny Care (Harlequins, 88 caps), Elliot Daly (Saracens, 57 caps), Owen Farrell (Saracens, 106 caps), George Ford (Sale Sharks, 82 caps), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 11 caps), Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 19 caps), Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 16 caps), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 73 caps ), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 6 caps), Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 22 caps), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps),Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 51 caps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 122 caps)
Argentina – world ranking 6
Head coach: Michael Cheika Captain: Julián Montoya RWC best: third, 2007
Key player: Emiliano Boffelli’s accurate goal-kicking has been instrumental to the team’s most memorable recent victories.
Argentina burst on to the Rugby World Cup stage in 2007, beating France on the opening night in Paris and defeating the host nation again to finish third. The current iteration of the Pumas contains a healthy blend of experience and youth: the well -travelled hooker Agustín Creevy is back for a fourth tournament at 38, as is the 34-year-old fly-half Nicolás Sánchez. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old forward Pedro Rubiolo of Newcastle, who can play lock or flanker, has forced his way into Cheika’s squad. Emiliano Boffelli, who can slot in at wing or full-back, is metronomic off the kicking tee.
Forwards
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Benetton), Francisco Gómez Kodela (Lyon), Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle), Thomas Gallo (Benetton), Eduardo Bello (Newcastle), Julián Montoya (Leicester), Agustín Creevy (Sale), Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan), Matías Alemanno (Gloucester), Tomás Lavanini (Clermont), Guido Petti (Bordeaux), Facundo Isa (Toulon), Pablo Matera (Mie Honda Heat), Juan Martín González (Saracens), Santiago Grondona (Bristol), Marcos Kremer (Clermont), Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle), Rodrigo Bruni (Bayonne)
Backs
Gonzalo Bertranou (Dragons), Lautaro Bazán Vélez (Rugby Rovigo Delta), Tomás Cubelli (Biarritz), Santiago Carreras (Gloucester), Nicolás Sánchez (Brive), Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse), Lucio Cinti (Saracens), Jerónimo de la Fuente (Perpignan), Matías Moroni (Newcastle), Emiliano Boffelli (Edinburgh), Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse), Mateo Carreras (Newcastle), Juan Imhoff (Racing 92), Rodrigo Isgró (Unattached), Martín Bogado (Highlanders)
Japan – world ranking 14
Head coach: Jamie Joseph Captain: Kazuki Himeno RWC best: quarter-final, 2019
Key player: Michael Leitch’s longevity as a back-rower is wondrous: the 34-year-old former captain remains a fiercely physical ball carrier.
The Brave Blossoms have illuminated the past two Rugby World Cups with their commitment to dynamic 15-man rugby, but perhaps have failed to kick on since the resounding success achieved as hosts four years ago. Jamie Joseph, the head coach who succeeded Eddie Jones, will depart after the tournament and a second quarter-final qualification would be a fitting way to sign off. Japan’s only previous World Cup meeting with England came at the 1987 tournament in Sydney, when they were beaten 60-7. It is safe to presume things will be different when they meet in Nice on 17 September.
Forwards
Asaeli Ai Valu (Saitama Wild Knights), Jack Cornelsen (Saitama Wild Knights), Warner Dearns (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Amato Fakatava (Black Rams Tokyo), Shota Fukui (Saitama Wild Knights), Jiwon Gu (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Ben Gunter (Saitama Wild Knights), Sione Halasili (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz), Shota Horie (Saitama Wild Knights), Kosuke Horikoshi (Tokyo Sungoliath), Keita Inagaki (Saitama Wild Knights), Shinnosuke Kakinaga (Tokyo Sungoliath), Pieter Labuschagne (Kubota Spears), Michael Leitch (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Craig Millar (Saitama Wild Knights), Atsushi Sakate (Saitama Wild Knights), Amanaki Saumaki (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Kanji Shimokawa (Tokyo Sungoliath)
Backs
Siosaia Fifita (Kintetsu Liners), Kenta Fukuda (Toyota Verblitz), Lomano Lava Lemeki (Green Rockets Tokatsu), Seungsin Lee (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Semisi Masirewa (Kintetsu Liners), Rikiya Matsuda (Saitama Wild Knights), Kotaro Matsushima (Tokyo Sungoliath), Yutaka Nagare (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jone Naikabula (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Ryoto Nakamura (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jumpei Ogura (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Tomoki Osada (Saitama Wild Knights), Dylan Riley (Saitama Wild Knights), Naoto Saito (Tokyo Sungoliath)
Samoa – world ranking 12
Head coach: Seilala Mapusua Co-captains: Chris Vui and Michael Ala’alatoa RWC best: quarter-finals 1991, 1995
Key player: Tumua Manu is a hard-running centre and a Super Rugby veteran who has been on the books at Pau in France since 2020.
Samoa will expect to beat Chile in their opening match in Bordeaux: if they can get the better of Argentina next up, a path to the last eight will open up. Seilala Mapusua’s squad contains three former All Blacks: Lima Sopoaga, Steven Luatua and Charlie Faumuina, along with the former Wallaby fly-half Christian Leali’ifano. They defeated the Brave Blossoms on Japanese soil in July, so there may be every chance of going into the final pool match against England with a shot at the last eight. A narrow warm-up defeat by No 1-ranked Ireland in Bayonne will also fuel their confidence.
Forwards
Michael Alaalatoa (Leinster), Brian Alainu'u'ese (Toulon), Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Francais), So'otala Fa'aso'o (Perpignan), Miracle Fai'ilagi (Moana Pasifika), Charlie Faumuina (Toulouse), Seilala Lam (Perpignan), Jordan Lay (Blues), Fritz Lee (Clermont), Steven Luatua (Bristol), Sama Malolo (San Diego Legion), Theodore McFarland (Saracens), Alamanda Taufua (Lyon), Luteru Tolai (Biarritz), Chris Vui (Bristol)
Backs
Nigel Ah Wong (Unattached), Ereatara Sotiaki Enari (Moana Pasifika), Ed Fidow (New York), Neria Foma'i (Moana Pasifika), Ben Lam (Montpellier), Christian Leali'ifano (Moana Pasifika), Alai D'Angelo Leuila (Moana Pasifika), Tumua Manu (Pau), Melani Matavao (Unattached), Duncan Paia'aua (Toulon), Ulupano Junior Seuteni (La Rochelle) Lima Sopoaga (Shimizu Blue Sharks), Jonathan Taumateine (Moana Pasifika), Danny Toala (Moana Pasifika)
One additional player to be confirmed
Chile – world ranking 22
Head coach: Pablo Lemoine Captain: Martín Sigren RWC best: N/A
Key player: Rodrigo Fernández, the fly-half and full-back who has the pace to beat opponents, and a willingness to try it from anywhere.
It may be hard to see Los Condores achieving a positive result in what promises to be a hard-fought pool but as the captain, Martín Sigren, has said, it is a victory simply to have made it to France. The presence of a first-time qualifier at the Rugby World Cup can only be a good thing, and it is all the more impressive considering the players were not being paid anything prior to 2021. Selknam Rugby, the club for whom most of the squad play, were only founded in 2019. The national squad has come a long way in a short time.
Iñaki Ayarza (Souyaux Angoulême), Augusto Böhme (Dallas Jackals), Javier Carrasco (Selknam), Lukas Carvallo (Selknam), Pablo Casas (Selknam), Matías Dittus (Périgreux), Tomás Dussaillant (Selknam), Javier Eissmann (Selknam), Alfonso Escobar (Selknam), Diego Escobar (Selknam), Rodrigo Fernández (Selknam), Matías Garafulic (Selknam), Nicolás Garafulic (Selknam), Iñaki Gurruchaga (Selknam), Pablo Huete (Selknam), Esteban Inostroza (Selknam), José Ignacio Larenas (Selknam), Salvador Lues (Selknam), Raimundo Martínez (Selknam), Santiago Pedrero (Selknam), Clemente Saavedra (Selknam), Domingo Saavedra (Selknam), Augusto Sarmiento (Selknam), Martín Sigren (Doncaster), Ignacio Silva (Selknam), Marcelo Torrealba (Selknam), Francisco Urroz (Selknam), Franco Velarde (Unattached), Benjamín Videla (Selknam), Santiago Videla (Selknam)
Three names still to be confirmed
Fixtures
9 September England v Argentina, Marseille, 8pm
10 September Japan v Chile, Toulouse, noon
16 September Samoa v Chile, Bordeaux, 2pm
17 September England v Japan, Nice, 8pm
22 September Argentina v Samoa, Saint-Étienne, 4.45pm
23 September England v Chile, Lille, 4.45pm
28 September Japan v Samoa, Toulouse, 8pm
30 September Argentina v Chile, Nantes, 2pm
7 October England v Samoa, Lille, 4.45pm
8 October Japan v Argentina, Nantes, noon
