HOW FAR WILL ENGLAND GO IN RWC 2015?

I attended an exclusive preview of RWC 2015 in Bath with distinguished guests from print and TV media. The question was asked where England would finish in this year's tournament and only one of the four panel predicted England would win the final. Two others voted for New Zealand and one for Australia. One leading journalist, whose opinion I respect, said England would fall at the QF stage. Another question was asked whether the panel would have selected Sam Burgess - no one said yes...

DO WALES HAVE THE DEPTH?

With sad news that Wales have lost first pick players, Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny, to injury even before the tournament starts, many fans will feel that the competition will be devalued for their absence. It also raises the inevitable issue of strength in depth, where England and New Zealand have always had the perceived edge in sheer playing numbers. And, with only 31 players allowed in the squad, why is it such an issue? Why can't the smaller nations find two world class fly halves, full backs, no.8's, etc? A cynic would argue even England have to rely on imports to strengthen their team at the expense of their junior rugby selection system, but let's leave that for another day.

An excellent BBC blog in 2012 highlighted that, whilst England has over 160,000 registered players of 18 years of age + and France 100,000, Wales has only 22,000 and Scotland a meagre 12,000. When this is reduced down further to professional players, England and France have over 300, whilst Wales has under 150. This, unfortunately, will impact the smaller countries, as the tournament progresses and leading players inevitably get injured. If Wales, Samoa or Scotland make the quarter finals, they don't have the luxury of calling up such quality as Danny Cipriani, Kyle Eastmond, Dylan Hartley or Dave Attwood to replace the wounded.

For it to happen to Wales even before the opening ceremony is cruel, and without Halfpenny's points tally from the boot. will probably now mean Wales will struggle to compete at the highest level, and only the outcome of the England v Australia game will determine who wins the group and avoids the Saffers in the quarters. Hope I am wrong....

JOHN WHO?

John Hardie of Scotland tackling Italy's fly half, Tommy Allan

Big Vern Cotter has thrown a few curved balls in his selections for his Scotland RWC 2015 squad by not only selecting Josh Strauss, who only qualifies on residency just before the tournament starts, but also some bloke called John Hardie, who has only played 60 mins for his new country and has no club at present. Now, obviously Mr Cotter knows what he is doing, having taken Clermont from also rans in French rugby to European Champions Cup Finals, and being a fellow Kiwi, he has great contacts in the South Island informing him how good Hardie really is, but it is still a risk to select an unknown ahead of de-risked, consistent performers like Blair Cowan and John Barclay.

However, many Scotland fans will be happy to "shake up" the squad a bit and take a risk on a "kilted" Kiwi, especially one who helped the Highlanders to the Super 15 title this summer, and is one of the few natural open side flankers in the Northern hemisphere. And despite the controversial selections of Hardie, Strauss and WP Nel (to help bolster the front row), it is encouraging to see Scotland able to reject players of the calibre of Barclay, Cowan, Ashe, Jackson, Tonks, Dunbar, Hamilton, Harley and Taylor.

Who would bet on Josh Strauss scoring the winning Scottish try against South Africa (the country of his birth)?

BURGESS OR BURRELL?

Slammin Sam gets the call....

Mmmm....so Coach Lancaster has made a big call, including Sam Burgess in his RWC squad over Luther Burrell. No doubt Sam is one of the best rugby league players ever, but has only been playing real rugby for 6 months and most of that at back row for his club. I watched him play at Twickers against France in the warm up game a few weeks back, and, yes, he made a few big defensive hits, but at one stage, Slade ran around him, as he appeared to be in the way. I coach rugby, I know how long it takes to build understanding out wide, but this is not Marlow Academy, this is England, second favourites to win the tournament.

Luther Burrell is a specialist centre, and has consistently delivered for his club, Northampton (who won the Premiership, two years ago), and, more recently for England in the 6 Nations. So what if Sam is only going to be back up to Joseph and "Saffer"Barritt - if Brad gets injured in the first game Sam will be first pick for Wales game, which if England lose, they will not make the quarters. Big call, which Lancaster is paid to make obviously, but it does have a whiff of RFU influence.

And where is Kyle Eastmond? Ooooh, but he's too small  and is defensively suspect, despite being another rugby league convert (best tacklers in the game). Australia has not been great on selection in recent years, but even they realise the merit in selecting "smallies" with immense talent in the form of Matt Giteau. KE is one of the most potent attacking forces in England, with quick feet and soft hands, so who is going to outskill the mountains that are Roberts or Kuridrani? I would have selected Eastmond over Burgess, Slade or Twelvetrees.

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