| World champions in fight for top spot |
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| Written by Ramaz Mitaishvili | |
| Friday, 31 August 2007 | |
 PARIS, 31 August - England, the reigning IRB Rugby World Cup champions and South Africa, winners in 1995, are set to battle it out for top honours in a Pool A oozing talent and firepower.
Both teams have contested each of the five previous tournaments, while the other Pool A sides, Samoa, USA and Tonga, have each only missed one world cup. With the exception of the USA, who failed to qualify in 1995, all Pool A teams have taken part in the past three tournaments. Defining match Group A's defining match will be the showdown between England and South Africa at the Stade De France in Paris on 14 September. The good news for England is the return of their 2003 hero, fly half Jonny Wilkinson (ENG). Since the 2003 tournament, England has had two changes of coach, with Brian Ashton (ENG) replacing Andy Robinson (ENG) - who himself took over from Sir Clive Woodward (ENG) - at the end of 2006. Big hope South Africa is the pool's big hope for further honours. Despite finishing behind New Zealand and Australia in the 2007 Tri-Nations tournament, Victor Matfield's (RSA) side were highly competitive and come to the RWC 2007 on the back of an impressive 27-3 win against Scotland at Murrayfield in their final warm-up match. South Africa is fourth in the IRB world rankings behind France and favourite to top the pool. Players such as dynamic blindside flanker Schalk Burger (RSA), named IRB Player of the Year in 2005, and veteran full back Percy Montgomery (RSA), offer immense talent and experience to the team. Looking to upset Samoa is 10th on the IRB world rankings behind Italy. This will be their fifth consecutive world cup and also the fifth for their star wing Brian Lima (SAM), whose 63 Tests, a Samoa record, include 16 world cup appearances. Samoa's New Zealand-born coach, former All Black great Michael Jones, has named a squad with only seven players boasting world cup experience. Despite this, the Samoan camp is confident of beating USA and Tonga, and hoping to upset either England or South Africa. USA gunning for hat-trick The young USA team, 15th in the IRB world rankings, will be striving for their third tournament victory. The previous two wins were both against Japan, at the 1987 and 2003 tournaments held in Australia. The USA will be going all out for their third win in the match against Tonga in Montpellier on 12 September. Tonga confident The Tongans consider themselves a big chance to win two pool matches, against USA and Samoa. Their last friendly match was on 25 August against an Edinburgh combined team, which they won 26-14. Tonga's best result was at the 1999 RWC when they beat Italy 28-25 in Leicester. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 31 August 2007 ) |
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