In part two of our series looking at all 20 teams playing in this year's World Cup, Robert van Royen looks at pool B.
SOUTH AFRICA
Coach: Heyneke Meyer
Captain: Jean de Villiers
Key man: Pivot Handre Pollard - loves to attack the line and is a real difference maker
South Africa's build-up to the tournament has again been plagued by claims the team is ''too white''.
With nine black players in the team's 31-man squad, a fringe political party even unsuccessfully applied for a court order to stop the team competing at the World Cup.
South Africa is coming off a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign this year, where it lost all three matches and finished dead last.
However, the Springboks - winners of the 1995 and 2007 tournaments - can never be underestimated.
Coach Heyneke Meyer's squad includes nine players from the team that won it all eight years ago, and South Africa still possesses a formidable forward pack and the best rolling maul in the game.
Led by No10 Handre Pollard (pictured) and utility back Jesse Kriel, the team also has youth and attacking flair.
But will they use it? Or will we see the same old South African team that kicks away all its possession and plays for penalties?
Odd spot: South Africa has the cheapest electricity in the world.
SAMOA
Coach: Stephen Betham
Captain: Ofisa Treviranus
Key man: Kahn Fotuali'i - a physically gifted halfback who does the fundamentals right
There probably is not a more physically opposing team than Samoa; just ask the All Blacks.
Samoa has a bruising forward pack, which includes former Otago flanker TJ Ioane and hard-hitting Hurricanes hooker Motu Matu'u.
It also possesses plenty of talent in the backs, most notably former Chiefs utility Tim Nanai-Williams and blockbusting winger Alesana Tuilagi, who trampled the Wallabies in the build-up to the 2011 tournament.
Brothers George, Ken and Tusiata Pisi are also included in the squad.
The Samoans will back themselves to pull off an upset against South Africa this time around, while they should be too good for the United States and Japan.
Odd spot: Samoa became an independent country from New Zealand in 1962.
SCOTLAND
Coach: Vern Cotter
Captain: Greig Laidlaw
Key man: Lock Richie Gray - a fine lineout option at 2.07m tall and the leader of the tight five
Is there a more boring team in world rugby than Scotland? This is a team renowned for its dull brand of rugby and inability to score tries.
When you think of Scotland, you think of a 9-3 scoreline. Kiwi Vern Cotter has been in charge since last year, so there is hope that the Scottish will finally start throwing the ball around.
That did not translate into results in this year's Six Nations, when Scotland lost all five matches.
Scotland did thump the Italians 47-7 in a recent warm-up match, but also lost to France and Ireland.
Cotter's 31-man squad includes a name Highlanders fans will be rather familiar with - flanker John Hardie, the only specialist No7 in the squad.
Former Crusaders winger Sean Maitland is also in the squad, which includes nine players born outside Scotland. Scotland failed to get out of its pool for the first time in a World Cup four years ago.
Odd spot: The waterproof raincoat was invented in Scotland in 1823.
JAPAN
Coach: Eddie Jones
Captain: Michael Leitch
Key man: Former Chiefs loose forward Leitch - Has a non-stop motor and was Japan's best player four years ago in New Zealand
Japan has its own Otago connection in former Otago lock Justin Ives, who has been named in the squad.
Ives, who is eligible for Japan after living there for three years, has played 30 matches for the team.
There is also the Highlanders connection with halfback Fumiaki Tanaka, who is set to add to his 47 caps for Japan.
Japan is coached by former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who was in charge of Australia when it knocked the All Blacks out of the 2003 tournament in the semifinals.
Japan has always tried to play an attacking brand of rugby, something Jones has especially pushed since taking over in 2012.
However, a lack of size up front will make for hard work against South Africa, Samoa and Scotland.
After finishing last in pool A four years ago, Japan again has its work cut out this year.
Odd spot: Raw horse meat is a popular food in Japan.
UNITED STATES
Coach: Mike Tolkin
Captain: Chris Wyles
Key man: Samu Manoa - At more than 2m tall, he is a monster of a No8, and has been touted as one of the best in the position in the northern hemisphere
The 31-man squad includes 20 players who will make their Rugby World Cup debuts.
Former captain Todd Clever is gone. He captained the team the past three tournaments, but was axed from the squad for disciplinary reasons.
Chris Wyles, who top-scored for his team four years ago in New Zealand, takes over as captain.
It will be his third World Cup; the same goes for forwards Mate Moeakiola and Louis Stanfill and backs Mike Petri and Takudzwa Ngwenya.
The Eagles hosted two of their group B opponents in the Pacific Nations Cup the past couple of months.
They edged Japan 23-18 but were beaten 21-16 by Samoa.
Rugby continues to grow in the US, particularly sevens, but it is hard to see the inexperienced Eagles finishing any higher than fourth in the pool.
Odd spot: The average United States citizen drinks the equivalent of more than 600 sodas each year.
