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1. France<\/strong><\/p>\n France celebrate during their recent win over Scotland <\/p>\n There\u2019s reasonably little to choose between the top four sides in the world, but France, as hosts, just about get the nod as favourites. The Stade de France was positively bouncing for the warm-up win against Australia and that sort of atmosphere could carry Fabien Galthie\u2019s side through the tournament. Romain Ntamack\u2019s injury is obviously a blow, but there is no drop-off in talent with Matthieu Jalibert installed as the starting fly half, and there are few holes in this fabulous French side\u2019s game.<\/p>\n 2. South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n The defending champions look to be in ominous form. There\u2019s real stylistic clarity evident in Jacques Nienaber\u2019s side, particularly with Siya Kolisi back fit, while Manie Libbok is settling in nicely at 10 to add extra attacking potential to the backline. Fatigue could yet be an issue \u2013 the Springboks\u2019 players have been juggling northern hemisphere club schedules with southern hemisphere international involvements for the last couple of years \u2013 but Nienaber has plenty of depth in his 33. <\/p>\n 3. Ireland<\/strong><\/p>\n Top of the rankings and unbeaten for more than a year, Ireland are genuine contenders for the first time. Consistency-wise, their structured attack and defence are probably the best in the world, and though Johnny Sexton will have to get back up to speed after his ban, ring rust doesn\u2019t tend to bother the fly half. Andy Farrell\u2019s side have answered pretty much every question posed to them in the last couple of years; can they become the first Ireland men\u2019s side to reach the World Cup final four?<\/p>\n 4. New Zealand<\/strong><\/p>\n The All Blacks won the Rugby Championship earlier this year <\/p>\n The All Blacks have progressed significantly in the last 12 months, but the Twickenham defeat to South Africa showed some old flaws up front with a couple of key personnel missing. The air of invincibility that New Zealand used to carry is gone, though a multifarious backline has plenty in the toolbox and the tight five is vastly improved under Jason Ryan\u2019s tutelage.<\/p>\n 5. Scotland<\/strong><\/p>\n A slightly sluggish showing against Georgia but Scotland remain in good fettle. In the other half of the draw, they\u2019d be close to semi-final bankers, but escaping Pool B will be tough for Gregor Townsend\u2019s men. Can they put a complete performance together against either Ireland or South Africa? <\/p>\n 6. Argentina<\/strong><\/p>\n Argentina are chugging along under the radar, which will probably suit Michael Cheika fine. A frankly brutish group of back-five forwards and pace to burn out wide, though the Pumas\u2019 scrum is more wobbly than usual. Santiago Carreras may be the key \u2013 the frisky fly half is still a work in progress but needs to find consistency. <\/p>\n 7. Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n Five defeats from five to start Eddie Jones\u2019s second stint in charge, but there were signs of promise against New Zealand and France. A developing power game built around Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi, among others, could take the Wallabies deep \u2013 though inexperience at fly half and elsewhere is a major concern.<\/p>\n 8. Fiji<\/strong><\/p>\n Rugby\u2019s great entertainers enter this tournament better prepared than ever before. The Fijian Drua contingent gives Simon Raiwalui\u2019s side a backbone and cohesion, and the development of a couple of props has shored up the scrum. Caleb Muntz produced a composed showing with the boot in the Twickenham win \u2013 if he can facilitate the unleashing of Fiji\u2019s strike runners, then a deep tournament run is a possibility.<\/p>\n 9. England<\/strong><\/p>\n England are in disarray ahead of the tournament <\/p>\n A disastrous month of warm-up action for Steve Borthwick as issues with injury and discipline add to a general air of malaise around English rugby. It is a long while since the 2019 runners-up played to potential, but there is surely too much talent and experience within Borthwick\u2019s squad to make a pool stage exit. That said, a subsequent meeting with one of the world\u2019s top five nations is surely the limit of their ambitions.<\/p>\n 10. Wales<\/strong><\/p>\n Signs of life for Wales with a couple of bright young things coming through to complement the remaining familiar faces, but Warren Gatland may still be fearful about the composition of a squad short on top-class talent. Gatland has backed youth in key areas in the hope of a 2011-style blossoming \u2013 the opening pool fixture against Fiji really is crucial. <\/p>\n 11. Samoa<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps no side has been more improved by the changes to World Rugby\u2019s eligibility rules than Samoa, with Steven Luatua and Lima Sopoaga, among others, adding class and calm. The Pacific Islanders are well coached by Seilala Mapusua and quietly have assembled one of the more complete squads in the tournament \u2013 if they can gel fully and avoid injuries to a few key individuals, don\u2019t rule out Samoa earning a last-eight place.<\/p>\n 12. Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n This Italian team is undoubtedly heading in the right direction but this tournament may come too soon for a statement performance from the Azzurri with both France and New Zealand in their pool. The bulk of the squad will be in their prime in four years\u2019 time when Italy will hope to have more Six Nations success behind them.<\/p>\n 13. Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n Georgia beat Wales in Cardiff last year <\/p>\n A side traditionally built around a power-packed group of forwards has more to it than past iterations. Davit Niniashvili is a moustachioed menace from full-back while Vasil Lobzhanidze, Gela Aprasidze, Tedo Abzhandadze and Luka Matvaka \u2013 all 26 or younger \u2013 ensure plenty of creativity in the halves. The win in Cardiff and besting of Italy last year have raised Georgian hopes of progressing out of their World Cup pool for the first time, but you fear that Australia, Fiji and Wales all have a little bit too much for Los Lelos when at full strength. <\/p>\n 14. Japan<\/strong><\/p>\n Japan appear a team in transition as the end of Jamie Joseph\u2019s highly successful time in charge nears. A squad that so impressed four years ago on home soil has struggled to regenerate after stalling during Covid, and fitness issues in the back five of the pack are a concern. Still capable on their day with their attacking invention, but it\u2019s tough to see the 2019 quarter-finalists repeating that achievement.<\/p>\n 15. Tonga<\/strong><\/p>\n Questions at fly half and in the front row will concern coach Toutai Kefu in such a tough pool. George Moala\u2019s ban is a shame, too, though Pita Ahki, Malakai Fekitoa and Charles Piutau still provide backline quality. With so much focus on South Africa, Scotland and Ireland\u2019s battles with one another, Tonga could catch one of the trio off guard \u2013 but the extended time between fixtures means they are unlikely to have heavily rotated opposition to get after. <\/p>\n 16. Uruguay<\/strong><\/p>\n The return of star scrum half Santiago Arata is welcome news for Uruguay, who stunned Fiji in one of the games of the World Cup four years ago. Much of the squad that travelled to Japan are back for more and have enjoyed a productive period of warm-ups in which Esteban Meneses\u2019s team went unbeaten. You fancy that the task will just be slightly too large against Italy, though. The 27 September meeting with Namibia in Lyon should be a lot of fun.<\/p>\n 17. Portugal<\/strong><\/p>\n Portugal appear to be building nicely towards their first World Cup in 16 years, impressing against the USA and particularly Australia A. There\u2019s talent aplenty in the squad of Os Lobos, with a young group of outside backs that could light up a fixture or two, though a win will probably be beyond them in Pool C.<\/p>\n 18. Namibia<\/strong><\/p>\n There wasn\u2019t too much to choose between Namibia and Uruguay in their warm-up encounter, with the South Americans taking an eight-point victory but their opponents impressing. Namibia\u2019s Pool A foes will have to look out for Tiaan Swanepoel\u2019s massive right boot and the teak-tough Richard Hardwick, but a first-ever World Cup win might have to wait.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/18\/19\/SEI167462142.jpg\")
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<\/p>\nTier two \u2013 best of the rest:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Tier three \u2013 more questions than answers:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nTier four \u2013 could cause a shock:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/11\/19\/15\/SEI134291585.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTier five \u2013 development the key:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Recommended<\/h3>\n
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