Wynne Gray: Weighing up 2015 Rugby World Cup contenders

Manu Tuilagi. Photo / Greg Bowker

A year from now all people will be talking about post Rugby World Cup is the winning nation and how the All Blacks did.

Those two may intersect on October 31 at Twickenham in the first successful defence of the Webb Ellis Cup in which case the fervour will go on as New Zealand hosts civic festivities and the NZRU holds its annual awards.

If it's another nation on the victory march, there will be fallout in New Zealand even though we have convinced ourselves we have grown up in our attitude towards defeat.

The remarkable sequence overseen by Steve Hansen and directed by Richie McCaw in the last three years is lifting expectations even more. Any change to that pattern will provoke inflamed reactions.

Let's not go there though, let's take it on the chin for our often lampooned national figure and believe the Chinese horoscope which says 2015 will be the year of the sheep.

Here's a rundown on the top 10 sides in World Rugby's latest ratings list which will see the tastiest pool play in the tournament coming in Group A with England (4th), Australia (5th) and Wales (6th) alongside Fiji and Uruguay.

All Blacks: The best all-round team, a two-time winner but no offshore titles. In a weak pool with Argentina the only threat before the cut-throat playoffs. Shades of 2007 or the year of the sheep?

Springboks: Cracked the code at Ellis Park with their template of a furious onslaught backed by goal-kicking. Need more depth and Jean de Villiers, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Louw, Fourie Du Preez and others to be fit.

Ireland: Have coach Joe Schmidt to steer the charge, points in the bank if Johnny Sexton holds his nerve and a pack with grit and technique to stay in the scrap.

England: Best pack with more to come when a lengthy injury list clears. The halo hovers over Manu Tuilagi's return to midfield and George Ford is the five-eighth messiah for now - after Farrell, Cipriani, Burns and Any Other.

Wallabies: Israel Folau is a golden glow from the back but the Wallabies have to find some hammer in the scrum otherwise they will reverse out of the tournament. Quade Cooper, James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale are being hyped - too bad they can't scrum.

Wales: Beaten semifinalists last time, threat when Sam Warburton, Jamie Roberts, George North and Rhys Webb hit their marks backed by Leigh Halfpenny's radar. Defence is tight, coach Gatland is a wily campaigner.

France: Will be the smartest dressed squad which can cover some messy attitudes. Pool play will not faze them with Ireland, Italy, Canada and Romania. Hard to see them beating three runner-up finishes.

Scotland: A resurgence is beckoning or so the theory goes after a couple of resolute productions in November. Face a struggle to get out of their pool if Samoa turns up while Japan will be prickly.

Argentina: Should qualify for the playoffs and have the experience of Four Nations footy to prepare them for that task. Have found a strong five eighth, Nicolas Sanchez, to support a hardworking pack.

Samoa: When they made their tournament debut in '91, they dusted Wales, Argentina and gave the Wallabies a hard time. If they get their administration sorted and reinforce their roster they may bring some dangerous form.