Rugby World Cup: Scotland's opponents

In powering their way towards the RBS 6 Nations championship this year England looked a formidable side but then came undone horribly in their bid to complete the Grand Slam in Ireland.

Since then, revenge over an Irish team that had bitten off far more than it could chew in organising five pre-World Cup warm-up matches, has followed a couple of strange outings against Wales, the second of which they lost despite dominating for long periods.

A record of six wins from eight matches in 2011 suggests the Six Nations champions ought to be the strongest of the Northern Hemisphere contenders. That said, defeats by both the All Blacks and South Africa in their last meetings back in the autumn stand in stark contrast to the way the 2003 World Cup winners prepared for that tournament by winning in both New Zealand and Australia.
 
History lesson England lay claim to having invented the sport when the man the World Cup trophy is named after, William Webb Ellis, picked up a football and ran with it . . . some would say they have been looking for ways to gain an unfair advantage ever since.
Lost the first ever international match to Scotland at Edinburgh’s Raeburn Place in 1871 but is very much the natural home of rugby boasting almost as many registered players as the rest of the world put together. Inevitably, then, they have won more outright international championships (26 to Wales’s 24), Triple Crowns (23 to Wales’s 19), and Grand Slams (12 to Wales’s 10) than any other side, as well as becoming the only Northern Hemisphere side to have won the World Cup and to have reached three finals.
However, it is only in the professional era that they have really begun to assert themselves as they should, having started to deal properly with the committee men Will Carling famously dismissed as “old farts” and even then there have been some extraordinary lapses.
 
Previous World Cup experience Gained full revenge at Sydney in 2003 for their defeat in the 1991 final to Australia not only by beating them but by doing so on the Aussies’ own patch. England also reached the final four years ago, making an astonishing recovery in the course of the tournament. They showed English resilience at its very best as they recovered from a hapless when  36-0 defeat by South Africa in the pool stages, only to push the same Springboks side much closer in the final. They have never failed to reach the knockout stages and also reached the semis in 1995 when they were overrun by Jonah Lomu, as highlighted by the famous man runs over Catt incident.
 
The coach Quite simply the most fearsome rugby player the British Isles has ever produced, World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson has settled things down after several years of strife which followed that 2003 success.His appointment to the job having been his first head coach’s position, questions have inevitably been raised regarding his tactical awareness, but anyone doubting the shrewdness of the brain functioning behind that vast, almost Neanderthal forehead, is making as grave an error as those who took on-field liberties used to. In motivational terms Johnno, meanwhile, gives his side a huge advantage since there is not a player on the planet who would want to head back into that dressing room having given the impression of not having offered his all to the cause.
 
Significant number 1966. They may have won the Rugby World Cup and the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup since, but rest assured Bobby Moore and the boys will get a mention somewhere along the way by our chums at ITV.
 
Famous cheerleader Ian Robertson, perhaps the most blatant of the Celtic commentators who so enthusiastically embraces their adopted nation, as immortalised in the one-time Scotland stand-off’s rapturous account of Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal eight years ago.
 
Who might have a problem at passport control? Manusamoa Tuilagi. What customs officer would not be confused when a squad includes someone who comes from, and is actually named after one of the rival countries, not to mention the fact that during most of his residency qualification period he was an illegal immigrant. As for what is going to happen if that rarest of things, a Kiwi who prefers rugby league, is on duty when Shontayne Hape, the former New Zealand rugby league cap, comes through wearing his England gear, it’s anyone’s guess. Dylan Hartley is another native New Zealander who could just attract a bit of additional attention from the locals, while the prospect of South Africa-born Matt Stevens’ arrival could get the dog-handlers excited in light of the two year ban he has served for cocaine use.
 
Five words that sum up England One. Or. Two. Actual. Englishmen.
 
Keep your eye on Johnno’s face if Chris Ashton goes for a swallow dive finish any time during the knockout stages.
 
If England were a film, they would be A Bridge Too Far. Lots of pukkah, stiff-upper-lip stuff, famous faces, the odd hint of a top-quality performance, but overall nothing like as exciting as it should be.
 
Pass mark In spite of their erratic form so far this year, a semi-final appearance is a minimum requirement for the world’s richest rugby country.

Argentina

They are nothing like the force they were at the last World Cup, as is reflected in their current world ranking. At the end of that 2007 tournament Argentina had reached third place on the world list but have now dropped to ninth, one place behind Scotland who can claim to be ahead of them on merit after last year’s first series win away from home.

Their preparations for this World Cup have also been sketchy after easy wins over Chile and Uruguay were followed by a 28-13 defeat by Wales in Cardiff. The quality of the forwards at their disposal means they are always extremely dangerous, however, and Glasgow Warriors supporters who have revered Bernie Stortoni as well as enjoying the skills of his countrymen Freddie Aramburu, Francesco Leonelli and Jose Maria Nunez Piossek, Argentina’s all-time record try scorer, know that their back play cannot be underestimated either.

History lesson Rugby in Argentina dates back to 1873 when it was introduced by British immigrants and has had a strong hold ever since. Their national side were visited by the touring British & Irish Lions in 1927 and put up firm resistance, while another 25 years later they lost the first “Test” by six points to an Ireland XV and drew the second.
Otherwise they were dependent on occasional visits by France for top-class Test exposure until the Home Unions started visiting in the late 60s and found life difficult, Scotland losing the first of an unofficial two Test series in 1969. Victories were to follow over Australia, England and France, while their first globally recognised player, Hugo Porta, kicked all their points in a 21-21 draw with the All Blacks as their reputation grew.
 
Previous World Cup experience The introduction of the tournament came at the perfect time for the Pumas just as they were beginning to lose their way due to their lack of regular involvement against the leading Test countries. In a weak pool they defeated Italy at the first tournament in 1987 but were well beaten by Fiji and the All Blacks, while they failed to win a match at the 1991 and 1995 tournaments. However, they began to demonstrate their true potential when they pushed hosts Wales all the way in the opening match of the 1999 tournament, going on to miss out on qualification in the cruellest fashion as they missed out on try count having beaten Samoa, who had in turn beaten the Welsh. In 2003, it was another near miss as they lost the crucial match to Ireland 16-15, but in 2007 there was to be no escape for the Irish as, having shocked the hosts this time by beating France in the opening match, Argentina topped the pool. In their decisive meeting with Ireland, they defeated Eddie O’Sullivan’s side by a convincing 30-15 margin.
 
The coach Santiago Phelan, their former flanker who played at the 1999 and 2003 World Cups, is the man given the thankless task of taking over from Marcelo Loffreda, whose exploits at the last tournament should go down in history among the greatest coaching achievements in international sport. Phelan has also had to begin the rebuilding process with most of that great squad having now departed and the rest beginning to look as if their best days are behind them.   
 
Significant number 2012. The year they are due to get into the Tri-Nations Championship, after which . . . look out world.
 
Famous cheerleader Diego Maradona is so desperate to be associated with anything remotely connected to Argentine success that he is rumoured to have a season ticket to all Andrew Lloyd Webber premieres hoping there’s going to be an Evita sequel.
 
Who might have a problem at passport control? Never mind the fact that the aforementioned Maradona has a record as long as a needle-punctured, extendable arm for drug abuse and has been known to shoot at the messengers, literally, his biggest problem may be that no-one at this World Cup will have heard of him. Wrong-shaped ball . . .
 
Five words that sum up Argentina Land. That. Produced. Bernie. Stortoni.
 
Keep your eye on Glasgow Airport. you never know when Bernie might get the call, either from the Pumas . . . or the Warriors.
 
If Argentina were a film, they would be L’Enfer, a French affair concerned with unwelcome guests.
 
Pass mark They will now be very disappointed if they do not reach the quarter-finals, even with an inferior squad to the greats of 2007.

Georgia

Under Scottish head coach Richie Dixon, Georgia have played eight and won eight, including victories over the United States, Canada, Namibia, Russia and Romania who are all at the World Cup.

In the course of their last seven matches the Georgian pack, made up of battle-hardened troops playing in the French League, have scored six push-over or penalty tries due to their scrummage power. Dixon would, however, point out that 17 of their 25 tries came from backs.
 
History lesson While rugby took much longer to develop than on the other side of the Black Sea in Romania, with the Georgian Rugby Union only being founded in 1964, it is now even better established, having overtaken football as the country’s favourite sport.
That can perhaps be explained by rugby’s similarity to the traditional Georgian sport of Lelo Burti, with the national rugby team consequently now nicknamed the Lelos.
Only emerged in their own right after declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, since when rapid progress has been made, largely thanks to so many of these naturally powerful players moving to clubs in France. 
 
Previous World Cup experience First qualified in 2003, losing all four matches while conceding an average of 50 points per match. However, they made the world sit up and take notice in France four years ago when Ireland spent the closing stage of their Pool match defending a 14-10 lead desperately and they went on to thrash Namibia 30-0.
Dixon was due to take Scotland to the World Cup in 1999 having been assistant coach in 1995, but was sacked following a humbling defeat by Italy. Could it be his turn to embarrass Scotland?
 
Significant number Eight. That stunning run of consecutive wins under our Richie.
Famous cheerleader Eduard Shevardnadze, Mikhael Gorbachev’s right-hand man who went on to become Georgia’s President has now slipped from the public eye after being ousted from office during “the Rose Revolution” amid corruption allegations. He is fiercely proud of his country, which might never have become eligible in its own right to play in events such as this without his efforts.
 
Five words that sum up Georgia Nearly. Beat. Ireland. Last. Time.
 
Keep your eye on Mamuka ‘Gulliver’ Gorgodze, the 6ft 5ins Montpellier No.8, voted foreign player of the year by L’Equipe last season.
 
If Georgia were a film, they would be October -- 10 Days That Shook the World. Georgian rugby’s October revolution may not happen this time around but if their coach is to be believed then, with the World Cup staying in its current window, it is only a matter of time.
 
Pass mark They expect to beat Romania, feel they have a wee chance of upsetting Scotland and might just fancy their chances against Argentina.

Romania

They were the last team to qualify for the World Cup, coming through a two leg repechage final against Uruguay late last year with victory in Bucharest and a draw in Montevideo.

They have had mixed fortunes in the second tier Six Nations championship this year, losing their opener to Portugal in Lisbon, but thrashing Spain and defeating Russia comfortably, while they lost by just a single score to Georgia in Tiblisi, which suggests their pool meeting on neutral territory could be very close.

More recently have beaten Namibia in the IRB Nations Cup and defeated Ukraine away in their only World Cup warm-up match.
 
History lesson Entered the international arena as long ago as 1919 when they met the United States then faced France in 1924. Thrived after World War II as it became a tool of the Communist regime and perhaps the high point came in 1984 when they beat the newly crowned Grand Slam champions Scotland during a run which brought wins over Wales (home and away in 1983 and 1988), France) twice in Romania in 1980 and 1982), a draw in Dublin with Ireland in 1980 and they had two tries disallowed in a 14-6 loss to the All Blacks in 1981. The fall of Communism wrecked their rugby structure, as it was based heavily on state-run police and army teams, but they have benefited from IRB initiatives. 
 
Previous World Cup experience Have taken part in every World Cup and have failed to win a pool match only once, in 1995. Romania have beaten a wide array of opponents; Zimbabwe in their first World Cup match in 1987, Fiji in 1991, the USA in 1999, Namibia in 2003 and Portugal in 2007.

The coach Romeo Gontineac, a bit of a local legend who won 76 caps between 1995 and 2008. He is in charge but the pack is drilled by Steve McDowall, the former All Black prop.
 
Significant number The perfect 10. Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci achieved maximum points for her routine on the uneven bars at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
 
Famous cheerleader See above . . . even Dan Carter, the feted New Zealand fly-half, cannot get close to Comaneci.
 
Five words that sum up Romania Still. Unsophisticated. But. Fast. Improving.
 
Keep your eye on Sorin Socol, their lock and captain who is among many French-based players in their squad, was voted player of the tournament at last year’s IRB Nations Cup and is inspirational.

If Romania were a film, they would be On the Waterfront. Had it not been for the collapse of Communism they would surely have been contenders. You were probably expecting a vampire movie and those disappointed should check out the Transylvanian-based darkness of Nosferatu.

Pass mark The target must be to win a match and their best chance is against Georgia, but they may fancy their chances of catching Scotland cold in sub-Antarctic Invercargill.

Scotland team profile

Tournament history

An eejit's guide

Rugby World Cup poster download
 

HeraldScotland will be providing special early morning coverage from the big games at the World Cup, beginning on Friday with New Zealand v Tonga, and then on Saturday when Scotland open their campaign against Romania.