#360Rugby: RWC15 predictions

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  • Use #360rugby to have your say during the Rugby World Cup.

    With the Rugby World Cup just days away, #360Rugby looks at who New Zealand’s biggest threats are and predicts who the tourament’s stand-out players are likely to be.

    New Zealand’s job in 2015 harder than ever
    It’s not too fanciful to say that the biggest opponent standing between New Zealand and becoming the first team to retain the World Cup is themselves.

    However this year’s World Cup is intriguing in that the class of teams waiting in the wings should New Zealand fall short is both plentiful and even.

    England have home advantage, Australia always show up for the big occasions, out of form South Africa have the all round squad while Ireland, the last few months aside, have been the second best team in the world for the last two years.

    France and Wales are a little further on the outside, Les Bleus are not at the same level but you just never know which France will show up. They made the final four years ago and really should have a favourable history against the All Blacks.

    Were they in ruder health, Wales would be a serious threat but they are missing three of their best five players.

    It is certainly New Zealand’s to lose but should they be at anything other than the top of their game, there are plenty of sides waiting to usurp them or their crown.

    The surprise package
    It would be a complete surprise to many if New Zealand aren’t the ones lifting the Webb Ellis Cup aloft in around six weeks’ time, but this tournament has been known to bring the best out of the most unlikely teams.

    France have had a poor season and are extremely unlikely to win, but due to their sheer unpredictability and taste for the extraordinary, could decide to show up and knock a top contender out as they have done in the previous two tournaments.

    Wales have been written off with injuries to Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb and are favourites for an early exit from the Group of Death.

    However with some of the world’s best players in Sam Warburton, Jamie Roberts and George North still to pick from the Welsh are a good bet to spring a surprise against an overconfident Australia or England in the pools.

    That leads to Fiji: A team that love to beat the big guns at World Cups. If the task facing Wales is insurmountable, Fiji’s chances of exiting the group are mountainous. 

    However, with Wales’ injury woes, Fiji first of all can create a shock by finishing ahead of Warren Gatland’s men in third. Wales fans might just be concerned about the Pacific Islanders and be reminiscing about their nightmare in 2007 when an epic final pool encounter saw Fiji beat them in one of the World’s Cup greatest ever games and qualify for the knockout stages.

    Individual brilliance on show
    In terms of pure entertainment fans should look no further than England centre Sam Burgess England and All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder.

    The duo were recipients of surprise call-ups after a dip in form amongst their more established teammates and both represent something of a gamble from their coaches.

    Burgess, the one-man wrecking-ball and rugby league legend, will fill the void left by Manu Tuilangi to put England over the gainline. Expect some bone-shuddering collisions when the man nicknamed Slammin’ Sam has the ball.

    Winger-cum-full back Milner-Skudder, presents a similarly maverick quality to Burgess but that is where comparisons end.

    The kiwi relies on magic footwork and supreme handling skills to outfox opposition and is capable of passing a defender untouched, if given two yards of space.

    Another worthy inclusion into this category is possibly the form player of 2015, Nemani Nadolo.

    At 130kg the big Fijian would not look out of place in the scrum but, unusually for such a brute of a player, possesses the handling skills of a fly-half.

    Put the two together and you have a player capable of winning matches on his own – which he may be called upon to do.

    Biggest flop
    There will be a guaranteed flop from Pool A. Australia, Wales and England will be targeting a place in the quarter-finals as a minimum requirement and a group exit would be considered a disaster for all three.

    Following weeks of hype about three space-age training camps, Wales could be left red-faced with poor records against both England and the Aussies.

    Australia’s recent Rugby Championship victory seems to have converted their doubters into believers but Wallaby fans should tread with care.

    A 40-point mauling at the hands of a wounded New Zealand side in the Bledisloe Cup could prove a more accurate reflection of Australia’s current form and will give their opposition confidence.

    With two tough games in the pool stages and a highly inexperienced coaching set up at international level, an early exit for the best team in the southern hemisphere is a realistic prospect.

    Hosts England have to deal with the added pressure of playing in a home World Cup. With two disappointing results against France last month, England’s men could be cracking. 

    Extra time
    Before the 2015 Rugby World Cup Nehe Milner-Skudder was a relatively unknown name. However with some of the most unique and unorthadox attacking skills in the game, the Wellington player could be set to become the biggest name in the game. The highlight reel below demonstrates just why Steve Hansen had to take a gamble on the wing.

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