As the international season winds up, Greg Growden rates the top competitors before next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.

POOL A

NEW ZEALAND

Strengths: The All Blacks are the most complete team going around, and boast two crucial elements – the world’s No.1 openside flanker in Richie McCaw and five-eighth in Daniel Carter. Every World Cup winner has a great No.10, and Carter is in that category. McCaw is also the smartest captain going around. As shown this season, they have the varied game plans to overcome most conditions and oppositions. The Wallabies did beat them once this year, but most times finished deep in their shadow.

Weaknesses: They have a terrible habit of falling apart at World Cup time. There is also the pressure of performing at home, because the expectations among the New Zealand community are enormous. As they have worked so hard on getting a consistent, settled line-up, they could struggle if injuries hit their attack. The All Blacks must work out where to put Sonny Bill Williams, because if he appears in the wrong spot, the balance could be badly affected.

What needs to be fixed: Not much.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Remained first.

Prediction: World Cup victors

FRANCE

Strengths: Are the most difficult to prepare for, because they constantly change their line-up. At the moment, they are going for the power game, playing a large midfield and relying on a back row that aims to terrorise the opposition five-eighth. When on song, as they were in last year’s Six Nations tournament, they are the cream of the northern hemisphere. They boast a solid coaching team led by Marc Lievremont, and are aided by state-of-the-art training facilities in Paris.

Weaknesses: Can be ill-disciplined, and distracted. Australia have a good record against them, winning their past four encounters, discovering that if they stick to the basics, they eventually find gaps in their defence. They also are not renowned for being the best tourists. At home, they can be unbeatable. Away, it just depends on their mood on the day.

What needs to be fixed?: Impossible to say, as it changes week to week.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year:Fourth to fifth.

Prediction: Lose semi-final. Win third place play-off.

POOL B

SCOTLAND

Strengths: As the Wallabies discovered this time last year, and the Springboks recently, Scotland, who are often rated one of the lesser-lights of international rugby, know how to destabilise big opponents. A lot of that has to do with their coach Andy Robinson, who was formerly in charge of England. Robinson knows how to get the best from a limited player group. Their game is not one of excitement, but of solid, grinding football, tight defence and relatively mistake free-rugby. Their Australian five-eighth Dan Parks keeps producing when required, and has the tactical kicking game to keep oppositions perched well in their half. They are not great to watch, but know how to irritate. Ask the Wallabies.

Weaknesses: Injuries always hit them hard, and in some spots backup is flimsy. Even though they are in good form – drawing against England, beating Ireland and Argentina twice – they were trounced by the All Blacks 49-3.

What needs to be fixed: To be a real threat, their attack has to improve. Time is running out.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Ninth to sixth.

Prediction: Sayonara after the pools. Won’t make the finals.

ARGENTINA

Strengths: They rely entirely on a confrontational style, and their pride is their scrum. They don’t get too much more experienced than the Pumas front row of Rodrigo Roncero (33), Mario Ledesma (37) and Martin Scelzo (34). Due to that, Argentina rely on the muscle approach to intimidate opponents. Often it works, because some teams hate getting involved in arm-wrestles. As the bulk of the team plays in France, they have a well-organised line-up who know how to play the mind games. The Pumas also know how to irritate, defending their turf with aggressive play when required. Without doubt they will improve even further when involved in the expanded Four Nations tournament with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Weaknesses: Their obsession with the He-Man approach, often means they turn into a grinding 10-man or 12-man team. Attacking play can sometimes be neglected.

What needs to be fixed up: They need a Plan B, as they rely too much on their traditional up-front game. Variety is required to go places in a World Cup.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Remained at eighth.

Prediction: Beaten quarter-finalists

ENGLAND

Strengths: They have at last been able to vary their game, discovering the assets of bright, open play against the Wallabies at Twickenham. Admittedly, the Wallabies helped them by losing their formation in defence, but England have the attack to terrify opponents and the set piece to ensure their possession figures are relatively healthy. Halfback Ben Youngs could easily be one of the World Cup stars, as he has a touch of Fourie du Preez about him. He is tough, resourceful and can turn games. And five-eighth Toby Flood has the kicking game to keep them together. In coach Martin Johnson, they have someone who knows what is required to win a World Cup. But it could have been so different if Australia had beaten England in Sydney last June. A loss then and Johnson could have easily been replaced.

Weaknesses: They often get ahead of themselves, believing they are superstars after just one victory – as occurred after the win over the Wallabies. England can be easily rattled, and if you get on top of them early, they usually wither.

What they need to fix: Like Australia, have to become more consistent.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Seventh to fourth.

Prediction: Beaten quarter-finalists

POOL C

IRELAND

Strengths: Brian O’Driscoll remains a viable World Cup force, with his leadership and midfield skills capable of lifting a run-of-the-mill team. He bluffed the Wallabies at Croke Park last year, and could easily do it again on September 17 in Auckland when they meet in a pool match. This game will be one of the most important in the tournament, and Ireland know how to distract the Wallabies by getting in their face. They remain a passionate, fire-in-the-belly team, and even when out of form know how to produce upsets. They are a left-field threat.

Weaknesses: Like Wales, are going through a rough period, winning just one of their past six Tests. And like Scotland, they often struggle in getting the required back-up if injuries hit. Too often they finish just off the pace.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Fifth to seventh

What they need to fix: Get more people to support O’Driscoll.

Prediction: Beaten quarter-finalists

AUSTRALIA

Strengths: When on song, there is nothing better to watch than the young, vibrant Wallabies back line. They have X-factor players in Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale, the required solid halfback in Will Genia, and in David Pocock the most promising openside breakaway in world rugby. With it is the rare ability to completely bamboozle opponents, and that is crucial at World Cup time. A consistent goal kicker might have been found in Berrick Barnes – and that is tournament asset No.1. You must have someone who can consistently kick them from everywhere. Most crucially, they are in one of the easier pools, and should cruise to the finals.

Weaknesses: They are too erratic. They struggle to string victories together. Despite the protestations of Robbie Deans that referees have preconceived ideas, their scrum often does gets shoved around, simply because they’re not as good as their opponents. The forward intensity sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. And do they have the heart, soul and hunger to win this? Debatable.

What they need to fix: They have to learn how to win game after game after game.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Third to second

Prediction: Beaten finalists

POOL D

FIJI

Strengths: Their 16-16 draw with Wales at the Millennium Stadium recently is a crucial moment in the development of one of the anticipated tournament giant-killers. They are not called the Flying Fijians for nothing, astounding Wales with their intensity and flashy play. The Fijian traditions remains, with the essence of their play revolving often around outlandish attacking play and brutal defence. Their scrum is reasonable, and is led by an able captain in tight-head prop Deacon Manu.

Weaknesses: Lack of resources, and endless uncertainty over who exactly is available, makes it hard for their head coach, former Waratahs second-rower Sam Domoni, to keep them together. And Domoni knows it is hard to keep his squad’s mind on the job. Not surprisingly before this weekend’s Test against Italy, Domoni said: ”The players will have to not only perform in the field but off the field, too.” They rely desperately on their overseas players, which makes their Test preparation difficult, as they have to usually beckon them at short notice from all areas of the globe.

What they need to fix: Must find the magic formula to have their best players in the same spot.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Remained at 10th.

Prediction: Will disappear after the pools.

SOUTH AFRICA

Strengths: No one boasts greater self-belief than the defending champions and their fans. They can sweep anyone away with their intense passion and power-based play. They always believe they are genuine winners – and that confidence can camouflage many of their blemishes. They boast the forwards and the five-eighth in Morne Steyn to be a serious tournament threat. And the loss to Scotland last weekend will have the desired effect of getting them back on track. Their player depth is also imposing.

Weaknesses: This is an ageing team, and it might just be beyond them. The World Cup will probably be two years too late for them. Also the endless controversies around their wacky coach Peter de Villiers could be a destabilising influence in the tournament lead-up. Everyone knows the senior Springboks players basically run the team, but you still need a solid figurehead as coach to keep it together. They did have one in 1995 in Kitch Christie when they won the Cup, but De Villiers is not in that category. It wouldn’t surprise if the Springboks self-destruct next year.

What they need to fix: Replace Peter de Villiers with Heyneke Meyer.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Second to third

Prediction: Lose semi-final. Lose third place play-off.

WALES

Strengths: Two years ago, the Welsh looked terrific, but now it appears to be unravelling. At least they have a formidable scrum, which gave the Wallabies problems at Millennium Stadium a few weeks ago. They have also tried to get some consistency going by giving Warren Gatland a long-term coaching contract and, while the team is not producing, at least they have a leader who has some idea. He should get them performing again during the Six Nations.

Weaknesses: They are not happy in the valleys with just one win from their past nine Tests, which is strange, considering that not that long ago they appeared a formidable side. Maybe, there is not enough young blood coming through, and they are relying on too many at the wrong ends of their careers.

What they need to fix up: Where do we start?

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Sixth to ninth.

Prediction: Beaten quarter-finalists.

Where they have gone in rankings in a year: Remained at 10th.

Prediction: Will disappear after the pools.