Rugby World Cup 2011 Preview.

Thanks to our friends at Guardian Sport, here is a brief preview, of the top sides in the current IRB rankings, for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

1 NEW ZEALAND

Still the favourites, although yesterday's defeat in Brisbane suggests that yet another choke is not out of the question. Also hinted that Graham Henry might be a little brave in leaving both Hosea Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu to kick their very rapid heels.

2 AUSTRALIA

From the depths against Samoa to victory over the All Blacks in Brisbane, Australia seem to be coming to the boil. And they will be better when James O'Connor is back from his ban so Adam Ashley-Cooper can partner impressive new centre Pat McCabe.

3 SOUTH AFRICA

Looks as though the gamble on ditching the Tri Nations has paid off with so many of the 2007 stars returning from holiday or sick bay in time to put in a pragmatic performance against the All Blacks last weekend. Benching skipper John Smit needed to be done.

4 FRANCE

Still doubts about the health of some of the props, but two wins from two warm-ups against Ireland will please Marc Lièvremont even if the announcement of his successor is unlikely to help harmony when things get tough for the coach. Which they will.

5 ENGLAND

Muddling through stronger in the heart and arm than the head, but a first win in Dublin since 2003 will do wonders. Even Manu Tuilagi and Mike Tindall occasionally found they were on same wavelength. Without Ben Youngs, scrum-half would be an area of concern.

6 WALES

Warren Gatland is gambling on taking a less-than-100% Gethin Jenkins and has to have his other Lions prop, Adam Jones, fit and well for that first game against South Africa. Wales reckon they can win it and make their lives in the knockout stages a lot simpler.

7 IRELAND

The long warm-up hasn't worked out and the injuries are piling up. Declan Kidney will say he has learned a lot but four losses from four – Scotland, France twice and England – suggest another difficult World Cup even with a mighty Paul O'Connell.

8 SCOTLAND

Like France, two wins from two warm-up games. Andy Robinson's reasoning was that he could better control how tasty the action got if all the hard work were done in camp and, with the exception of Nikki Walker, his first-choice 30 were on the flight.

9 ARGENTINA

There were patches against Wales when they looked like guys who had only just met up – which they had. Age is beginning to creep up on some of them and Juan Martín Hernández is missing. But … they came third in 2007.

10 ITALY
The inspirational No8 Sergio Parisse is targeting the Ireland game, but it looks as though Italy shot themselves in the foot when they called time on Nick Mallett's tenure.
Teams in IRB ranking order