With all the hype of the Rugby World cup 2011 many have spoken about the chances of the top teams but very few have mentioned a word about the minnows of the tournament. The bottom eight team will put up a more than capable competition to the top sides and all have the talent needed to cause upsets against any team.
Japan
Right at the top of the bottom 8 ranked teams are the AsianGiants Japan who will be lead in by their monstrous number eight Takashi Kikutani. The team is beingcoached by the legendary All Black world cup winner John Kirwan. The Japanese squad is as follows;
Forwards: HisateruHirashima, Naoki Kawamata, Yusuke Aoki, ShotaHorie, Hiroki Yuhara, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Nozomu Fujita, Hitoshi Ono, Toshizumi Kitagawa, Luke Thompson, Justin Ives, Takashi Kikutani (captain), Michael Leitch, SioneVatuvei, RyukoliniasiHolani, Itaru Taniguchi.
Backs: Fumiaki Tanaka, Tomoki Yoshida, Atsushi Hiwasa, James Arlidge, Murray Williams (Toyota Industries Shuttles), Yuta Imamura, Ryan Nicholas, Koji Taira, Alisi Tupuailai, HirotokiOnozawa, Kosuke Endo, TakehisaUsuzuki, Shaun Webb, Taihei Ueda.
Canada
Ranked at number 14 are the North American representatives Canada who have been a part of all the world cup tournaments from its inception. Kieran Crowley is the Canadian coach who was the first coach to name his 30 man squad for the tournament. Crowley is also a member of the 1987 World cup winning All blacks side. The North Americans will be lead into this all important tournament by the experienced hooker Pat Riordan. Canada squad is as follows;
Forwards: Ryan Hamilton, Pat Riordan (captain), Hubert Buydens, Scott Franklin, Jason Marshall, Andrew Tiedemann, Frank Walsh, Jamie Cudmore, Brian Erichsen, Tyler Hotson, Aaron Carpenter, NanyakDala, Adam Kleeberger, Jeremy Kyne, Chauncey O’Toole, Jebb Sinclair.
Backs: Ed Fairhurst, Jamie Mackenzie, Sean White, Nathan Hirayama, Ander Monro, Ryan Smith, ConorTrainor, Phil Mackenzie, Mike Scholz, DTH van der Merwe, Ciaran Hearn, Taylor Paris, Matt Evans, James Pritchard.
Fiji
Ranked at number 15 are the islanders from Fiji. The Fijians have been dark horses in this tournament in the past with their biggest achievement coming in 2007 when they qualified for the quarter finals. The Fijians lead by senior prop Deacon Manu and will be coached by Sam Domoni. Their squad is as follows;
Forwards: CampeseMa’afu, Deacon Manu (captain), SetefanoSomoca, WaiseaDaveta, ViliameVeikoso, TuapatiTalemaitoga, Sunia Koto, SekoKalou, Leone Nakarawa, WameLewaravu, RupeniNasiga, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, SisaKoyamaibole, AkapusiQera, NetaniTalei, MasiMatadigo, MalakaiRavulo.
Backs: NemiaRanuku, VitoriBuatava, WaiseaLuveniyali, SeremaiaBai, Nicky Little, Albert Vulivuli, Gabirieli Lovobalavu, RavaiFatiaki, VerenikiGoneva, NapolioniNalaga, Michael Tagicakibau, KiniMurimurivalu, Iliesa Keresoni .
Georgia
Next in line are the Georgians who made their debut in RWC 2003 have improved over the last 8 years and now have built up a side that can cause problems for any top side. They almost toppled the Irish last time around and will come into this tournament lead by IrakliAbuseridze and coached by Richie Dixon. The squad is as follows;
Forwards: Dimitri Basilaia, Givi Berishvili, Jaba Bregvadze, George Chkhaidze, Levan Datunashvili, Akvsenti Giorgadze, MamukaGorgodze, VasilKakovin, Davit Khinchagishvili, Viktor Kolelishvili, Davit Kubriashvili, VakhtangMaisuradze, GiorgiNemsadze, Goderdzi Shvelidze, ShalvaSutiashvili, Ilia Zedginidze, Davit Zirakashvili.
Backs: Irakli Abuseridze (captain), Irakli Chkhikvadze, Revaz Gigauri, Lekso Gugava, Davit Kacharava, Lasha Khmaladze, Merab Kvirikashvili, Irakli Machkhaneli, Lasha Malaguradze, Bidzina Samkharadze, Alexander Todua, MalkhazUrjukashvili, TedoreZibzibadze.
Romania
Romania have been a part of every World cup over the years but have never made too much of an impression. The Romanians will be coached by Romeo Gontineac, who played for Romania in four World Cups and he will be assisted by 1987 World Cup-winner Steve McDowall. The Romanian squad is as follows;
Forwards: StelianBurcea, Daniel Carpo, NicolaeDragos Dima, SilviuFlorea, Daniel Ianus, Paulica Ion, Mihaita Lazar, MihaiMacovei, NicolaeNere, CristianPetre, Valentin Poparlan, CosminRatiu, Marius Tincu, OvidiuTonita, ValentinUrsache, BogdanZebega.
Backs: ValentinCalafeteanu, IonelCazan, Stefan Ciuntu, IonutDimofte, DanutDumbrava, IulianDumitras, Catalin Fercu, Csaba Gal, ConstantinGheara, MadalinLemnaru, CatalinNicolae, Lucian Sirbu, Florin Surugiu, Florin Vlaicu.
USA
The ever powerful Americans lie in 18th in the World rankings going into the world cup. America is coached by Eddie O’Sullivan and skippered by Todd Clevee. The squad is as follows;
Forwards: InakiBasauri, Chris Biller, Todd Clever, Pat Danahy, Eric Fry), JJ Gagiano, Nic Johnson, Scott LaValla, Mike MacDonald, Brian McClenahan, Mate Moeakiola, Shawn Pittman, Hayden Smith, Louis Stanfill, Phil Thiel, John van der Giessen.
Backs: Paul Emerick, Tai Enosa, Colin Hawley, NeseMalifa, TakuNgwenya, James Paterson, Mike Petri, Blaine Scully, Junior Sifa, Andrew Suniula, Roland Suniula, Kevin Swiryn, Tim Usasz, Chris Wyles
Russia
The Russian qualify in 19th position in the world rankings and will have a though tournament ahead of them. The coach of this team is NikolayNerush. They will be skippered by the ever capable Hooker VladishlavKorshonuv. The squad is as follows;
Forwards: Vladimir Botvinnikov, Alexander Khrokin, Sergey Popov, Ivan Prishchepenko, Alexey Travkin, Vladislav Korshunov (c), ValeriTsnobiladze, Denis Antonov, Adam Byrnes, Andrei Ostrikov, Alexander Voytov, ArtemFatakhov, AndreyGarbuzov, EvgenyMatveev, Mikhail Sidorov, ViacheslavGrachev, Victor Gresev,
Backs: Andrei Bykanov, Alexander Shakirov, Alexander Yanyushkin, Yuri Kushnarev, Konstantin Rachkov, Mikhail Babaev, Alexei Makovetskiy, Sergey Trishin, VasilyArtemyev, Andrei Kuzin, Vladimir Ostroushko, Igor Klyuchnikov, Denis Simplikevich
Namibia
Namibia is going into this tournament ranked the lowest out of the 20 teams in 20th position. However the Namibians have the potential to cause a few upsets against some of the bigger teams. Jacques Burger will lead the Namibians to the RWC 2011. The squad for RWC 2011 is as follows;
Backs: Johannes Bock, Chrysander Botha, Hendirk Dames, Darryl de la Harpe, Ryan de la Harpe, Eugene Janjties, TheunsKotze, TertiusLosper, Conrad Marais, David Philander, Llelwellyn Winkler, Daniel van Wyk, Mcgrath van Wyk, Willem van Zyl.
Forwards: Jacques Burger (captain), Egbertus O’Callerghan, Nico Esterhuyse, Hendrik Franken, Hugo Horn, Uakazuvara Kazombiaze, Rohan Kitshoff, Heinze Koll, Raol Larson, Pieters van Lill, Jacques Nieuwenhuis, Reaud van Neel, Tinus du Plessis, Johannes Redelinghuys, Johannes du Toit, Marius Visser.
