Players to look out for:
Julian Savea (New Zealand)
The All Black wing tormented England last summer with the power as well as cleverness of his running, just as he has done to every defence since making his debut. A superstar
George North (Wales)
A man who has the capacity to do as Savea has done: to be a player who gets the crowd on the edge of its seat and the opposition on full alert. North is Wales' strike weapon, a real threat to England's prospects
Israel Folau (Australia)
A triple-code genius, able to adapt whether it be Aussie Rules, rugby league or union. He and North were the drawcards of the Lions tour, vying with each other for the most stunning solo scores. Folau can attack from anywhere
Kieran Read (New Zealand)
A key men in the New Zealand brain trust, a cerebral as well as athletic No8 forward, always in the right place and always doing the right things. Alongside Richie McCaw, the pair direct operations between them
Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
Sexton will be back in the Irish bosom by the time the World Cup begins, his two year sojourn at Racing Metro in Paris at an end. The return home will boost the fly-half's morale, put him more at ease with himself, and that is good news for all Ireland fans
Gael Fickou (France)
There was a time when a World Cup gallery of stars would have included half a dozen Frenchmen, blessed with flair or forward-based ferocity. How times have changed. Fickou, the young Toulouse centre, has the potential to remind us of Gallic glory days, all grace and speed
Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
The Springboks still exude a sense of menace in all that they do. To beat them you have to stop them, be it upfront or behind. It's a macho challenge and Etzebeth, the young South African lock, has inherited the mantle of Bakkies Botha: the enforcer
Niki Goneva (Fiji)
Goneva has proved to be a dynamic force in the Premiership for Leicester, a player with magic in his feet as well as power in his legs. Fiji are in England's pool and if the Fijian forwards can get ball, then Goneva will be dangerous
