Rugby World Cup Groups 2015: Key Storylines in Pool D
Pool D features half of the Six Nations teams, as France, Ireland and Italy look to progress to the quarter-finals. There is no southern hemisphere side, withย Canada and Romania completing the group.
Pool D has plenty of stories to follow, not least Irelandโs best shot at World Cup glory to date, Romania making a policy change by picking foreign-born players and whether France can keep up their highly impressive record at the tournament.
Will Italy prove the undoing of Ireland or France, and what state will Clermont Auvergne and Canada hardman Jamie Cudmoreย be in for the World Cup?
France: Will They Come Good?
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France tend to save their best form for World Cups. They are often seen as unpredictable or perennial underachievers, but their record in rugby's showpiece tournament is excellent. Only once have they failed to make the semi-finals.
| Year | Stage Reached |
| 1987 | Final |
| 1991 | Quarter-Final |
| 1995 | Semi-Final |
| 1999 | Final |
| 2003 | Semi-Final |
| 2007 | Semi-Final |
| 2011 | Final |
| 2015 | TBD |
Against a good English pack in August,ย France also showed they can still outmuscle teams up front. Franco flair may been curtailed, but the pack looks just as beefy as usual. They will not fear a quarter-final against New Zealand or Argentina.
No wonder, then, that coach Philippe Saint-Andre recentlyย demandedย his team make the World Cup final, per L'Equipe (h/t Reuters, via the Guardian).
Ireland: Schmidtโs Strategy, and Will the Golden Generation Deliver?
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Ireland have their best shot at World Cup glory in their history. Winners of the Six Nations for the past two seasons, coach Joe Schmidt has turned them into a side southern hemisphere teams fear.
But do Irelandโs recent defeats against Wales and England convey signs of weakness, or is Joe Schmidt ensuring his squad only reaches peak fitness during the tournament?
The latter view was corroborated by Ben Kay, whose thoughts were quoted byย BBC Sport:ย "That's a risky strategy if you can't get the confidence. ...ย Speaking to people around the squad they are saying that their build-up has been slightly different in that they are looking to peak slightly later in the tournament."
Is that the case? Will Schmidt and Ireland pull off a masterstroke?
Italy: Franceโs Bogey Team and Parisseโs Injury
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Italy will be expected to come third in the pool, but donโt write off the Azzurri straight away.
Ireland and France ought to be too strong for them, but the Italians like facing the French. Outside of the Stade de France, Italy have won two of the last three meetings.
The absence of Sergio Parisse, the Italy captain, for their opener against France is a massive blow to Italyโs hopes of causing an upset and progressing to the quarter-finals. Coupled with the unavailability of lively centreย Luca Morisi, like Wales, Italy have been dealt cruel injury blows ahead of the tournament.
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Canada: Cudmore and Concussion
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Canadaโs star man is stillย Clermont Auvergne lockย Jamie Cudmore. But the 37-year-old captain almost missed the World Cup and was on the brink of retiring after a series of head injuries.
The burly enforcer spoke to the Press Association about his ordeal (h/t theย MailOnline):
"I had three months off. I went through all the protocols and all the tests, the neurological work-ups and stuff.
It was very scaryโthe whole month of June I was sitting on my couch, I couldn't watch TV, couldn't really do anything.
I was stuck between the World Cup and retirement.
I had all kinds of symptoms: headaches, being very irritable, tired when you shouldn't be tired, then being really tired and not being able to sleep.
That was really bizarre, just lying down and closing your eyes and not being able to sleep.
It was tough, but thankfully with rest and the right medical help I'm out the other side.
"
With concussion in sport more in the global eye than ever, and governing body World Rugby introducing video review for head injuriesย at the tournament, per the Telegraph, letโs hope the abrasive warrior is able to inspire his team in Pool D.
Romania: Arms Opened to Overseas Players for the 1st Time
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Romaniaโs rugby federation has become the latest to extend a welcome to foreign-born players who qualify under a three-year residency rule.
โIt's the first time that naturalised players have been selected for the Romania squad at a World Cupโ, explained a spokesman for the federation to Agence France-Presse (h/tย Wide World of Sports).
Theย Irish Times expects New Zealand-born playmaker Michael Wiringi, Tonga-born centre Paula Kinikinilau, South Africa-born lock Johannes van Heerden and Georgia-born front-rower Otarย Turashviliย to feature for Romania at the tournament.
Will the changes make Romania a stronger team in the long term?
