There is now less than 150 days to go before the 2015 Rugby World Cup gets underway, meaning that excitement is steadily building ahead of the elite competition.
One side in particular will head to Britain as strong favourites to go all the way, but New Zealand are not alone in harbouring hopes of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup later this year. Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the five leading contenders to win the famous tournament.
1. New Zealand
World ranking: First
Coach: Steve Hansen
Captain: Richie McCaw
Recent form: LWWWWW
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Very much the team to beat, the defending champions will head into this year's competition as strong favourites to go all the way once again. The All Blacks have a certain aura about them which seemingly gives them a 10-point advantage before play even gets underway, and with a nice-looking pool to compete in, it is likely that they will keep their best rugby until the latter stages of the competition.
The Kiwis saw their impressive 22-game unbeaten streak come to an end against South Africa last year, something which no doubt will have annoyed coach Steve Hansen, although another winning streak is already being placed together with five successful outings since that 27-25 reverse at Ellis Park.
That defeat, as rare as it was, did show that the world's best side can be beaten, though, which will offer just a glimmer of hope to the rest of the challengers. News broke this week than Aaron Cruden is expected to miss the showpiece tournament, meaning that Dan Carter and Beauden Barrett will now battle it out for the number 10 jersey. Even injuries cannot halt the New Zealand charge, it seems, which just goes to highlight the unstoppable nature of this side.
2. England
World ranking: Fourth
Coach: Stuart Lancaster
Captain: Chris Robshaw
Recent form: WWWLWW
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There is no denying that the pressure on England this autumn will weigh down heavily on the shoulders of each and every player. A nation expects, and with the last triumph on the global stage coming some 12 years ago, the time really must be now for Stuart Lancaster's men.
The signs are promising if the Six Nations is anything to go by. The opening-game victory over Wales, in front of a vociferous sell-out crowd at the Millennium Stadium, went a long way to showing that England can indeed handle the pressure. Defeat against Ireland aside, it was a competition which the Red Rose can reflect upon with promise, having only missed out on the crown by the virtue of a weaker try count than their Irish counterparts.
Tournament hosts England are favourites to top their pool, and they will no doubt be buoyed by the fact that five of the last seven host nations have gone on to reach the final. Home advantage really will play a massive part this year, but following so many near misses in the Six Nations since Lancaster took charge, it could be a similar story on the biggest stage of them all.
3. South Africa
World ranking: Second
Coach: Heyneke Meyer
Captain: Jean de Villiers
Recent form: WWLWWL
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Becoming the first team to beat the world champions in two years will certainly see South Africa riding on the crest of a wave, and as ever you would expect the Springboks to be there or thereabouts come the end of the tournament. A perfect blend of players to choose from, not many would bet against the Southern Hemisphere giants matching the feat of 2007 and going on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup again.
Victory over England one year ahead of the elite competition, coupled with that historic win over the All Blacks, proved that Heyneke Meyer's men will not be fased by facing the fellow big boys in the latter stages. What will worry those travelling over to England, however, was the way in which their side ended their autumn tour on such a sour note.
Wales secured a 12-6 victory at the Millennium Stadium, capitalising on what was a horror show from the visitors. Handling errors, poor tackling and, well, just an all-round afternoon to forget saw them slump to their second defeat in five outings. The other of those losses was against Ireland, so there are certainly improvements to be made between now and September.
4. Ireland
World ranking: Third
Coach: Joe Schmidt
Captain: Paul O'Connell
Recent form: WWWWLW
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Ahead of their meeting with Wales in this year's Six Nations, Ireland boasted a 10-game winning streak which looked as though it would roll on right up to the World Cup itself. A defeat in Cardiff cost them their air of invincibility, though, and very nearly saw them pipped to the post for the trophy itself.
In the end, their 19-9 win over England a fortnight before that Cardiff slump proved to help them on their way to back-to-back Six Nations crowns, meaning that they find themselves in a confident mood right now. Jonathan Sexton has endured some injury problems, but with him fit and firing Ireland have one of the finest kickers in world rugby to help boost their chances of success.
Ireland will certainly be hoping to at least progress beyond the quarter-final stage for the first time, and with a hefty backing of supporters expected to travel over from the Emerald Isle, they may just make this a year to remember.
5. Wales
World ranking: Fifth
Coach: Warren Gatland
Captain: Sam Warburton
Recent form: WLWWWW
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Perennial slow starters, Wales soon recovered from what looked to be a catastrophic defeat at home to England to claw themselves to the brink of a third Six Nations triumph in four years. They had to dig deep to see off Scotland at Murrayfield, while the win over Ireland and a 41-point margin of victory over Italy on a memorable final day proved that Warren Gatland certainly has a side at his disposal who can match - and even get the better of - the best.
A controversial 9-8 defeat at the hands of France four years ago is still at the forefront of the minds of Wales supporters, but a lot has happened since then - both good and bad. Like England, the Red Dragons have the luxury of playing certain games on home soil, yet it is fair to say that the pool draw did not favour them one little bit.
If Wales are to advance into the knockout stages then they will have to oust one of England or Australia, which will be a tough task. Their record against Southern Hemisphere sides does not bode well, although there was that recent victory over the Springboks to take solace from. That meeting against Australia is likely to prove decisive, but with the game being staged in London, this is one occasion where home advantage will have little say.
Daniel Lewis
