2015 Rugby World Cup: 5 Underdog Teams Who Can Cause a Shock

No matter where one's allegiances may lie, it's difficult not to root for the little guy in a tournament as prestigious as the Rugby World Cup—as long as it's not your team they're facing.

With less than 12 months remaining until England host the 2015 competition, minnows and underdogs around the world are preparing to enter the breach once more, irrespective of how the odds are stacked against them.

Here, we consider those less conspicuous sides and dark horses who may not only make a surprise challenge on the title itself but, in other cases, merely make it past the group stage and beyond.

As with any sport, there is an obvious hierarchy in rugby, and we go about picking out some of those teams who have the potential to perform to a higher standard than might be expected of them at present.

1. Argentina

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A year after claiming their first-ever win in the Rugby Championship, Argentina are hoping to make new strides among the world's elite, but Rugby World Cup glory is a far greater task.

Their victory over Australia in the final round of this year's southern hemisphere tournament was a rousing declaration, but one-off results mean little when consistency is needed in England next year.

The Pumas are shooting for second place in Pool C. No matter which way one looks at it, New Zealand will undoubtedly top that group, but the likes of Georgia, Namibia and Tonga hold far more encouraging prospects.

Should they claim the runners-up spot, Daniel Hourcade's men would then face the winner of Pool D, which looks likely to be either France or Ireland, neither of whom are unbeatable opponents.

Wet weather isn't a foreign concept to the Argentinians, who actually performed well in slippery conditions against South Africa in the Rugby Championship.

English settings are likely to throw up a variety of climates, but a strong pack and potentially dazzling backs gives them the outline of a strong setup.

In 2014, Hourcade used a mixture of local talent and European-based stars to mixed fortunes, but the Rugby World Cup should see the coach summon together his strongest squad possible, fitness pending.

The likes of Juan Martin Hernandez, Manuel Montero and Nicolas Sanchez gives them talent in the backs, while Agustin Creevy is proving to be a formidable captain amid a passionate set of forwards.

Of course, the title is still too big an ask for the 2007 third-place finishers, one would think, but perhaps a potential run to the semis—and even the final itself—isn't quite out of the question.

2. Japan

A population of more than 127 million puts Japan in a superb position to advance in any sport they can manage to make mainstream enough, and rugby is a developing passion on their shores.

Professionally, the Japan Top League has made no effort to hide its allure as a lucrative venture for foreign talent, but those additions are being joined by more and more natives of burgeoning talent.

Head coach Eddie Jones is searching for any advantage he can in getting a tactical one-up on his opposition, so much so that he's even looked to Bayern Munich mastermind Pep Guardiola for advice.

After meeting the Spaniard in Bavaria, Jones was quoted by Sky Sports as saying:

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The main thing we learned this year was that we have to be tactically more flexible. We need to react to situations on the field and make adjustments to the way we play. The soccer approach is called tactical periodisation, in which everything is done in preparation for the game and in order to be tactically aware.

"

As the attached video shows, Japan's scrum sits as an incredibly improved aspect of their coaching regime and very arguably sits among the most fearsome in the world.

With some enviable backing, Japan clearly have motivation to become a heavy player and are showing that in their recruitment. Sky Sports announced in May 2014 that ex-England captain Steve Borthwick had joined them as a forwards coach.

Granted, other parts are still catching up, but the Asian nation is proving to possess a fine array of fast learners, which is undoubtedly helped by the vast numbers they can potentially tap into.

South Africa and Scotland will be considered their main threats in Pool B, while Samoa and the United States will be looked upon as more beatable opposition.

That being said, Japan certainly cannot consider a runners-up finish out of the question, which in itself would be a huge achievement in their Rugby World Cup quest.

3. Scotland

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Vern Cotter's Scotland are turning tricks in 2014, taking the positives from Scott Johnson's youth promotion during his spell in charge and adding a far more attractive touch under their newest head coach.

The former Clermont Auvergne chief has given new belief to this Scottish outfit, a vindication in their own ability that was shown throughout the autumn internationals.

There, the team managed big wins over Argentina and Tonga, but lost to a weakened New Zealand outfit—bearing in mind the latter encounter was just a one-point game until the last seven minutes.

In England next year, Scotland will face South Africa as their biggest threat in Pool B, while Japan, the United States and Samoa each bring their own share of concern.

However, it's the Scots who will be considered favourites to take second spot, playing the winner of Pool A—most likely England, Australia or Wales—in the quarter-finals.

Six Nations stubbornness in recent years has shown the Scots can very much restrain an opponent. Now they're adding flair in attack, though, where figures such as Stuart Hogg, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar and Tommy Seymour are showing more promise.

The next year of development with clubs such as Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh is a drastic one, but Cotter already has the framework ready for a much-improved assault on the globe's big guns.

4. France

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France may not be considered underdogs to many since they managed to make the final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but it's been a hard time for Les Bleus since that achievement.

Faith in Philippe Saint-Andre has been tested on numerous occasions, where three successive finishes in the bottom three of the Six Nations standings has told a tale of their regression.

However, hopes are once again high at the Stade de France after an autumn international series that showed extreme signs of promise.

The team ended their series with a disappointing defeat at home to Argentina, but wins over Australia and Fiji told a far different story.

New international beacons are emerging in the shape of Teddy Thomas, Rory Kockott and Scott Spedding. All that while the existing figures of Thierry Dusautoir, Bernard Le Roux, Wesley Fofana and Maxime Medard are showing glimpses of their former best.

Ireland are evidently the ones to watch out for in Pool D. Attaining first place in the first round will be seen as pivotal to each team's chances at the title, but this France outfit may be discovering its momentum at the right time.

That's because whomever finishes second has the unenviable honour of taking on the All Blacks in the quarters.

Win Pool D and that team has the potentially fortunate path to make a run at the trophy. Finish second, and it's all laid on the line at just the second hurdle.

5. Wales

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Running with the theme of big outfits fighting a battle against their own reputation, Wales aren't currently being eyed as a major title contender for the 2015 world title.

Their autumn series displayed a work rate and admirable ability to frustrate the likes of New Zealand and South Africa, but for one reason or another, the fluidity in attack simply isn't there.

Warren Gatland was happy to see Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies once again featuring as a fully fit and fast-functioning partnership, but George North couldn't get up to speed, along with others.

It's no new story to Wales, though. Much of their mid-2000s success came when the team looked out of sorts but managed to band together when it mattered, largely through strength of will.

That characteristic isn't something that simply dissipates overnight.

Expect the Welsh to be strong when it matters, and if winning ugly is all the side are capable of in 2015, Gatland will surely take that in his stride and roll with it.

Hosts England and Australia will provide fierce contention to top the group rightly being termed 2015's Pool of Death, but both are familiar opponents and ones a flying Wales lineup certainly has the potential to overcome.

Unfortunate to miss out on a place in the final three-and-a-half years ago, Wales should escape their shackles to perform once again when it matters most. It would be folly to rule out their run at the trophy just yet.