Fact files on countries competing in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

GROUP A:

CANADA
Capital: Ottawa
Population: 33.8 million
Founded: 1882
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Quarterfinals (1991)
Coach: Kieran Crowley
Captain: Pat Riordan
Star player: Jamie Cudmore
IRB world ranking: 14

Prospects: Unlikely the Canadians will have to alter their travel arrangements home as there is next to no chance they will trouble New Zealand or France. They have a core of decent players such as highly-rated flanker Chauncey O'Toole, the man-mountain Cudmore as well as skipper Riordan but they will probably be happy with a win against either Tonga or Japan. Even that may be beyond them.

FRANCE
Capital: Paris
Population: 60.8 million
Founded: 1919
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Runners up (1987, 1999)
Coach: Marc Lievremont
Captain: Thierry Dusautoir
Star player: Imanol Harinordoquy
IRB world ranking: 4

Prospects: Defeat by Italy in a mediocre Six Nations has caused concern but the French remain capable of turning on the style when the wind is blowing in the right direction. A pool match against the All Blacks will likely define their tournament. Lose and they will likely have to take on again old nemesis England in the last eight - win and they could he heading to the final.

JAPAN
Capital: Tokyo
Population: 126.8 million
Founded: 1926
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Group stage
Coach: John Kirwan
Captain: Takashi Kikutani
Star Player: James Arlidge
IRB world ranking: 13

Prospects: Winners of the Pacific Nations Cup, Japan go into the tournament on the crest of wave and hoping to claim two wins in the group - presumably against Canada and Tonga. It won't be enough to see them into the quarterfinals unless they can catch the French napping. Even so, two wins would be a great step forward for the hosts of the 2019 edition.

NEW ZEALAND
Capital: Wellington
Population: 4.25 million
Founded: 1892
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Winners (1987)
Coach: Graham Henry
Captain: Richie McCaw
Star player: Dan Carter
IRB world ranking: 1

Prospects: Nobody in their right mind is going to back anyone other than New Zealand to win the World Cup for the first time since they last hosted it in 1987. And yet, the doubts remain. The All Blacks have become notorious chokers in the World Cup, they have a complex about playing the French, who beat them in the quarterfinals four years ago, and recently lost their Tri-Nations crown to a resurgent Australia. They ought to win - but will they?

TONGA
Capital: Nuku'alofa
Population: 122,600
Founded: 1923
World Cup appearances: 5 (1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Group stage
Coach: Isitolo Maka
Captain: Samui Vahafolau
Star player: Steve Mafi
IRB world ranking: 12

Prospects: Consistency has always been a problem for the Tongans. Out of World Cups it has been hard to come by but once there they become a far better unit. So don't read too much into their poor Churchill Cup and Pacific Nations results. Abrasive and explosive, they won't give an inch against the big guns and will probably have too much for Canada and Japan.

GROUP B:

ARGENTINA
Capital: Buenos Aires
Population: 40.5 million
Founded: 1899
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Third (2007)
Coach: Santiago Phelan
Captain: Felipe Contepomi
Star player: Patricio Albacete
IRB world ranking: 9

Prospects: It is going to be tough for the Pumas to follow their performance four years ago when they reached the semifinals but they have a great chance of reaching the last eight where they would probably meet either France - who they beat twice in 2007 - or New Zealand. Contepomi is a master puppeteer and they have forwards like Albacete, Lobbe and Ledesma who will give no quarter.

ENGLAND
Capital: London
Population: 51.5 million
Founded: 1871
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Winners (2003)
Coach: Martin Johnson
Captain: Lewis Moody
Star player: Jonny Wilkinson
IRB world ranking: 5

Prospects: Looking for their third successive final, England go into the tournament as Six Nations champions. They have their moments of brilliance but do not have the depth of strength, quality and leadership that took them to the title in '03. Even presuming Wilkinson remains at the helm - Johnson could yet turn to Toby Flood - the World Cup may have come a year too early for this team and the last eight may be as good as it gets.

GEORGIA
Capital: Tbilisi
Population: 4.6 million
Founded: 1961
World Cup appearances: 2 (2003, 2007)
Best performance: Group stage
Coach: Richie Dixon
Captain: Irakli Abuseridze
Star player: Mamuka Gorgodze
IRB world ranking: 16

Prospects: "Best of the rest" in Europe and eager to improve on their stirring performances four years ago when they took Ireland to the wire by taking a Six Nations scalp. Scotland, in particular, need to be on the lookout. With most of their pack playing in France, Georgia have talent and depth up front to match anyone. Some wise heads reckon they could even make the quarterfinals for the first time.

ROMANIA
Capital: Bucharest
Population: 21.6 million
Founded: 1931
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Group stage
Coach: Romeo Gontineac
IRB world ranking: 17

Prospects: The glory days of Romanian rugby are long gone. They still have a few top quality players but they don't have the strength in depth to be serious contenders for the last eight. They will be happy with a single victory, preferably over Georgia as they try to reassert themselves as Europe's best outside the Six Nations.

SCOTLAND
Capital: Edinburgh
Population: 5.2 million
Founded: 1873
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Fourth (1991)
Coach: Andy Robinson
Captain: Alastair Kellock
Star player: Richie Gray
IRB world ranking: 7

Prospect: Forget the last Six Nations, the Scots are a tournament team. They thrive on the close bonding that a World Cup brings and the sight of England in the same pool will stir their blood considerably. Having said that, their meeting with Argentina could be the one that decides if they make it through to the quarterfinals.

GROUP C:

AUSTRALIA
Capital: Canberra
Population: 21.5 million
Founded: 1949
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Winners (1991, 1999)
Coach: Robbie Deans
Captain: James Horwill
Star player: Quade Cooper
IRB world ranking: 2

Prospects: If anyone is set up to spoil the New Zealand victory parade, then it is the Wallabies whose young side swept the Tri-Nations, claiming the Bledisloe Cup in the process. Playing in their back yard will help but it is the sheer quality and dash of their play that will make them the neutral's favourite.

IRELAND
Capital: Dublin
Population: 4.25 million
Founded: 1874
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Quarterfinals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003)
Coach: Declan Kidney
Captain: Brian O'Driscoll
Star player: Sean O'Brien
IRB world ranking: 8

Prospects: Four defeats in four warm-up matches does not bode well for the Irish side which may be beginning to feel its age. O'Driscoll remains a match-winner - providing his shoulder bears up - but a tendency to lose focus has blighted them in the past. It will be a (pleasant) surprise if they can raise their game to go further than the last eight.

ITALY
Capital: Rome
Population: 58.1 million
Founded: 1928
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Group stage
Coach: Nick Mallett
Captain: Sergio Parisse
Star player: Sergio Parisse
IRB world ranking: 11

Prospects: Nick Mallett has done a lot with this team, making them hard to beat and giving them the shape to open up opportunities for themselves. The forwards, led by the estimable Parisse, will make the hard yards but a lack of pace and guile in the backs means they will likely fail in their bid to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

RUSSIA
Capital: Moscow
Population: 139.4 million
Founded: 1936
World Cup appearances: 0
Coach: Nikolai Nerush
Captain: Vladislav Korshunov
Star player: Vasili Artemiev
IRB world ranking: 19

Prospect: First appearance at the World Cup. Realistically, there is no chance of the Russians making it through to the knockout stage but this is a major part of their rugby evolution. The Bears produced decent Churchill Cup performances against Canada, Italy A and the USA and will be looking to knock over the Eagles. Pace in the backs, watch out for Northampton wing Artemiev.

UNITED STATES
Capital: Washington DC
Population: 310.2 million
Founded: 1975
World Cup appearances: 5 (1987, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Group stage
Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan
Captain: Todd Clever
Star player: Taku Ngwenya
IRB world ranking: 18

Prospects: Progress has been slow in the USA and the Eagles remain a second tier nation. In spite of some outstanding individuals such as Clever and Ngwenya, the talent pool remains pretty shallow. The Americans will use the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to motivate them for their opener against Ireland - but their World Cup may hang on whether they can beat the Russians.

GROUP D:

FIJI
Capital: Suva
Population: 957,800
Founded: 1913
World Cup appearances: 5 (1987, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Quarterfinals (1987, 2007)
Coach: Samu Domoni
Captain: Deacon Manu
Star player: Sisa Koyamaibole
IRB world ranking: 15

Prospects: Political interference has upset their preparations for the World Cup but Fiji will still fancy their chances of repeating their win of four years ago against Wales. Even then they have to contend with arch-rivals Samoa and the Springboks. An understrength side was hammered by the All Blacks and then lost to Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup but this is an open group and they could well reach the last eight for the third time.

NAMIBIA
Capital: Windhoek
Population: 2.1 million
Founded: 1990
World Cup appearances: 3 (1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Group stage
Coach: Johan Diergaardt
Captain: Jacques Burger
Star player: Jacques Burger
IRB world ranking: 20

Prospects: The Namibians will need to look on the bright side of life as they are in the Pool of Death. No chance of them qualifying for the last eight and not much hope of winning a single game. They will enjoy taking a pop at neighbours South Africa but it could be ugly on the scoreboard. Fingers crossed that Burger - their outstanding player - is not injured. Then they really will be in trouble.

SAMOA
Capital: Apia
Population: 192,000
Founded: 1924
World Cup appearances: 5 (1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Quarterfinals (1991, 1995)
Coach: Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua
Captain: Seilala Mapusua
Star player: George Stowers
IRB world ranking: 10

Prospects: Another side that will fancy a crack at the Welsh and the chance to take second spot in the group. The Samoans laid down a marker when they beat an undercooked Wallaby side in Sydney in the summer and with New Zealand a second home to many of the them, they will enjoy great support. Add to that a combination of power, pace and the fiercest tacking this side of Saturn and even the Springboks will be wary. Definite quarterfinal hopefuls.

SOUTH AFRICA
Capital: Pretoria
Population: 49.1 million
Founded: 1889
World Cup appearances: 4 (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Winners (1995, 2007)
Coach: Pieter de Villiers
Captain: John Smit
Star player: Pierre Spies
IRB world ranking: 3

Prospects: A good win over New Zealand in Port Elizabeth was a poor return for a Tri-Nations which saw de Villiers using plenty of cotton wool to protect his players. Champions four years ago, they ought to have enough to reach the semifinals where, if the rankings are followed, they would meet the hosts. But they cannot afford to lose focus against Wales and Samoa in particular.

WALES
Capital: Cardiff
Population: 3 million
Founded: 1881
World Cup appearances: 6 (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Best performance: Third (1987)
Coach: Warren Gatland
Captain: Sam Warburton
Star player: Shane Williams
IRB world ranking: 6

Prospects: The Welsh face a tough battle getting past Samoa and Fiji, two teams that have caused them innumerable problems over the years. But they have talent, especially in the backs where Shane Williams and George North can really cause trouble, and a canny coach. They came third when the tournament was last held in New Zealand in 1987 - and they could well be the dark horse of this tournament.

AFP