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1. France (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n There remains reasonably little to choose between the top four sides in the world, but France produced the goods on the opening night against New Zealand, surviving a slightly sloppy showing to emerge reasonably conclusive winners. They will be hard to stop with the home crowd behind them, though injuries continue to threaten to throw the hosts off course.<\/p>\n 2. South Africa (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n An excellent defensive performance to open the tournament for the defending champions, shutting down Finn Russell and the rest of Scotland\u2019s dancers. 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 (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n An almost seamless slipping back into the Ireland side from Johnny Sexton after suspension to put an overmatched Romania away. A smattering of missed opportunities but a sizeable final scoreline \u2013 but the sterner stuff, obviously, is still to come. <\/p>\n 4. New Zealand (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n A magnificent start but it never quite happened thereafter for the All Blacks in the opener, with Jordie Barrett, Shannon Frizell and Sam Cane all missed. Building momentum through their remaining pool fixtures may be key before the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n 5. Scotland (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n It always looked a tough start for Scotland, and their failure to get their attacking game clicking left their forwards with too much to do against the mighty Springboks pack. Gregor Townsend\u2019s side will retool, reload and target their meeting with Ireland on Saturday 7 October.<\/p>\n 6. Australia (\u2b06\ufe0f1)<\/strong><\/p>\n The Wallabies secured their first win under Eddie Jones against Georgia and it was a performance that will have encouraged the head coach. Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou look a potent pair on the tighthead side of the scrum and Ben Donaldson\u2019s composed showing at full back deepens Jones\u2019 backline options.<\/p>\n Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video<\/p>\n Sign up now for a 30-day free trial<\/p>\n Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video<\/p>\n Sign up now for a 30-day free trial<\/p>\n 7. England (\u2b06\ufe0f2)<\/strong><\/p>\n At last, England found a performance to be proud of at the Stade Velodrome. The time for tries will come but George Ford showed calm and command to take control of the encounter after Tom Curry\u2019s sending off and the Kevin Sinfield-drilled defence was dramatically improved.<\/p>\n 8. Wales (\u2b06\ufe0f2)<\/strong><\/p>\n By the skin of their teeth, Wales clung on for a vital win against Fiji, with a tireless defensive effort just about holding firm at the last to make their route to the last-eight much, much easier. Can it be a springboard to more tournament success?<\/p>\n 9. Fiji (\u2b07\ufe0f1)<\/strong><\/p>\n Fiji were narrowly beaten by Wales <\/p>\n Oh, Fiji. So close and yet so far on a glorious night of rugby in Bordeaux. Simon Raiwalui will rue Semi Radradra\u2019s knock on and, perhaps, the officiating, but a few errors left the Pacific Islanders with too much to do late on. Fly half Caleb Muntz\u2019s tournament-ending injury before the opening game was a major blow. <\/p>\n 10. Argentina (\u2b07\ufe0f4)<\/strong><\/p>\n An overreaction to one defeat? Perhaps, but Argentina were so far removed from their best in Marseille, surprisingly short of thought and intensity against England\u2019s 14 men. Michael Cheika cut a frustrated figure at full-time – work to be done to avoid a pool stage exit.<\/p>\n 11. Samoa (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n Yet to get their tournament underway, but 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 challenging for a last-eight place.<\/p>\n 12. Italy (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n An imperfect performance against Namibia in the St Etienne heat, but five tournament points leave Italy top of Pool A, with a good chance of another bonus-point victory in their next encounter with Uruguay. Stunning France or New Zealand still might prove a step beyond Kieran Crowley\u2019s side.<\/p>\n 13. Georgia (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n A few glimpses of why Georgia will be a Pool C threat in defeat to Australia in Paris. 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 Fiji and Wales will also have a little bit too much for Los Lelos.<\/p>\n 14. Japan (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n Six tries in the end for Japan against Chile and a spot atop Pool D. The encounter with England in Nice will be a better gauge of whether Jamie Joseph\u2019s side, on the brink of transition to a new era, have one last famous World Cup moment in them.<\/p>\n 15. Tonga (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n Another nation yet to feature, 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 (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/strong><\/p>\n There will be no easing into the tournament for Uruguay, who have France up first on Thursday 14 September. The return of star scrum half Santiago Arata is welcome news for a side that 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 (\u2194\ufe0f)<\/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![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/08\/22\/newFile.jpg\")
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<\/p>\nTier two \u2013 best of the rest:<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tier three \u2013 more questions than answers:<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nTier five \u2013 development the key:<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Recommended<\/h3>\n
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