The Otago Daily Times will examine all 20 teams playing in this year's World Cup through a pool guide. Today, sports editor Steve Hepburn has a look at pool A.
ENGLAND
Coach: Stu Lancaster (first World Cup).
Captain: Chris Robshaw.
Key man: Courtney Lawes - tough lock who will not stand down to anyone.
The hosts, and the team everyone loves to hate.
But it will throw a giant wrecking ball into the tournament if the English side does not make it out of pool play.
England has some huge depth and that is sometimes the biggest issue. No-one seems to know what is England's best team.
Big, tough forwards and a solid set of loose forwards, although nothing too exciting.
In the backs, much will depend on who plays No10 and among all the hype around Sam Burgess, will he actually get any decent time on the pitch?Will be hard to beat but others will have to be off their game for the home side to come through.
Odd spot: Shoelaces were invented in England in 1790.
WALES
Coach: Warren Gatland (second World Cup).
Captain: Sam Warburton.
Key man: Warburton - needs to stay on the pitch and play to his absolute best.
Hark back two weeks and Wales was looking comfortable to make a real impact in the tournament.
But injuries to key men, fullback Leigh Halfpenny and halfback Rhys Webb, have put a real dent in the Welsh hopes.
The side has lost a couple of key men in its spine and they will be hard to replace, Halfpenny especially.
Over-achieved in making it to the semifinals last time around and may struggle to get one over Australia and England.
Much will depend on its front five and the likes of midfield back Jamie Roberts and the men further out.
Needs everyone to be firing to be competitive.
Odd spot: Wales is not represented on the Union Jack flag.
AUSTRALIA
Coach: Michael Cheika (first World Cup).
Captain: Stephen Moore.
Key man: David Pocock - if he dominates a game, then Australia will most probably win.
This is a big tournament for Australia and the sport in its country.
Rugby lags behind the other three main winter codes in Australia and if the Wallabies fail badly, it will be another blow to a sport that at times is struggling to get its head above water.
If coach Michael Cheika can put his top team on the park and play well, then Australia will be very competitive.
Should leave Quade Cooper well out of sight in the crunch games and look to the likes of Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale to be really involved in attacking thrusts.
A questionable scrum does not help but the side has some gifted and strong loose forwards.
Odd spot: Australia has less than 1% of the world's population and more than 20% of the world's poker machines.
FIJI
Coach: John McKee (first World Cup).
Captain: Akapusi Qera.
Key man: Nemani Nadolo - needs to get involved and play like he does for the Crusaders.
Fiji has been building but the side's biggest issue will once again be discipline.
The men from the Pacific can score some great tries but their problem is keeping calm when the pressure goes on.
Big games in big stadiums require a temperament that concentrates on the basics and ignores the niggle that goes on in games. Fiji has to wise up and use its natural talents.
Has some outstanding backs and one hopes the side looks to move the ball and play the traditional Fijian style.
Much will depend on finding space in these matches - that often comes down to the first five-eighth and new Crusader Ben Volavola is tasked with doing that job.
A few people are talking them up but it will be a massive upset if Fiji can beat anyone other than Uruguay in the pool games.
Odd spot: Fiji is right on the date line. On an island in the country, you can have one foot in today and the other in yesterday.
URUGUAY
Coach: Pablo Lemaine (first World Cup).
Captain: Santiago Vilaseca.
Key man: Agustín Ormaechea - livewire halfback that never stops.
As a 5000-to-one long shot to win the title, Uruguay is going to be on the wrong end of some hefty scorelines in its four games.
Not helped by having to play at four different venues, the Uruguayans are a bunch of semi-professional players. The side made the tournament in something of an upset, beating the Russians in a two-leg playoff to find the 20th and final side at the big dance.
Uruguay is missing big lock and its best player Rodrigi Copo Ortego, who told the Uruguayan authorities he did not want to play in the tournament. His French club denied they had leaned on him but it is a shame for player and country he is not there.
Will be spirited but motivation and energy only goes so far. Three figures may appear in the scoreline when the Uruguayans appear in the field.
Odd spot: Uruguay's national anthem is the world's longest, lasting about five minutes.
