John Ledger is the Yorkshire Post's man in Australia in association with Frontline.

World Cup squads

Australia

Darius Boyd (Brisbane), Terry Campese (Canberra), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), Israel Folau (Melbourne), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Karmichael Hunt (Brisbane), Greg Inglis (Melbourne), Brent Kite (Manly), Anthony Laffranchi (Gold Coast), Darren Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), Joel Mongahan (Canberra), Josh Perry (Manly), Steve Price (Warriors), Scott Prince (Gold Coast), Billy Slater (Melbourne), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Glenn Stewart (Manly), Brent Tate (Warriors), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland), Anthony Tupou, Anthony Watmough (Manly), David Williams (Manly).
Coach: Ricky Stuart.

Danger man: Jonathan Thurston. The latest in a long line of outstanding Australian scrum-halves. Has the ability to dominate a game from the outset. Good hands, great feet and a sharp brain.

World Cup pedigree: Winners on nine occasions - 1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1985-88, 1989092, 1995, 2000. Can anyone stop the green and gold machine?

World Cup odds: 2-9.

Fiji

Jone Macilai (Fassifern), Nick Bradley-Qalilawa (Manly), Wes Naiqama (Newcastle), Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta), Semi Tadulala (Bradford), Kaliova Nauqe (Fassifern), Iowane Divavesi (Terrigal Sharks), Waisele Suka (Terrigal), Ashton Sims (Brisbane), Semisi Tora (Parkes Spacemen), Malakai Tuiloa (Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs), Vula Naqau (Terrigal), James Storer (Cronulla), Osea Sadrau (Fassifern), Jason Bukuya (Cronulla), Aaron Groom (Canterbury), Daryl Millard (Canterbury), Jone Wesele (Darlington Point), Akuila Uate (Newcastle), Josateki Ravueta (Sawtell Panthers), Ilisoni Vonomateiratu (unatt), Alipate Noilea (Parkes), Sevania Koroi (West Magpies), Josua Koroibulu (Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs), Nemani Valekapa (unatt).
Coach: Joe Dakuitoga.

Danger man: Akuila Uate. An exciting 21-year-old winger who is probably the fastest player in the competition. Good balance, slick hands and a confidence that will see him take on defences on the outside.

World Cup pedigree: Made debut in 1995. Lost to England and Australia in both 95 and 2000.

World Cup odds: 150-1.

France

Jared Taylor (Lézignan), Justin Murphy (Catalans), Teddy Sadaoui (Carcassonne), Sebastien Raguin (Catalans), Sebastien Planed (Toulouse), John Wilson (Catalans), Dimitri Pelo (Catalans), Christophe Moly (Carcassonne), James Wynne (Lézignan), Maxime Grésèque (Pia), Thomas Bosc (Catalans), Laurent Carrasco (Villeneuve), Grégory Mounis (Catalans), Eric Anselme (Leeds), Jamal Fakir (Catalans), Jean-Christophe Borlin (Saint-Gaudens), Olivier Elima (Catalans), Adel Fellous (Lézignan), Jean-Philippe Baille (Catalans), Jerome Guisset (captain, Catalans), Julien Rinaldi (Harlequins), Remi Casty (Catalans), Matthieu Grifi (Catalans).
Coach: John Monie.

Danger man: Maxime Grésèque. Ex-Wakefield and Featherstone half-back has spent the last few months with Brisbane Broncos and should be up to speed. Great kicker, from hand and tee, and will be France's pivotal player.

World Cup pedigree: Runners-up in 1954 and 1968.

World Cup odds: 100-1.

Ireland

Ross Barbour (Carlow), Bob Beswick (Widnes), Damien Blanch (Wakefield), Mick Cassidy (Barrow), Ged Corcoran (Sheffield), Lee Doran (Leigh), Liam Finn (Dewsbury), Simon Finnigan (Bradford), Karl Fitzpatrick (Salford), Steve Gibbons (London Skolars), Sean Gleeson (Wakefield), Scott Grix (Wakefield), Gareth Haggerty (Harlequins), Ben Harrison (Warrington), Graham Holroyd (Halifax), Wayne Kerr (London Skolars), Stuart Littler (Salford), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Eamon O'Carroll (Wigan), Michael Platt (Bradford), Pat Richards (Wigan), Ryan Tandy (Wests Tigers), Shayne McMenemy (unatt), Brendan Guilfoyle (Treaty City Titans).
Coach: Andy Kelly.

Danger man: Ryan Tandy. Back in the NRL after spells with Hull KR, Doncaster, Widnes Whitehaven and Barrow, will bring a wealth of experience to a green Irish team.

World Cup pedigree: Qualified for the quarter-finals in the World Cup debut in 2000. Lost 26-16 to England.

World Cup odds: 150-1.

Papua New Guinea

John Wilshere (Salford), David Moore (Gold Coast Titans), George Keppa (Norths Devils), Stanley Gene (Hull KR), Keith Peters (Penrith), Charlie Wabo (Mendi Muruks), Rodney Pora (Island Gurias), George Moni (Mendi), Nixon Kolo (Wari Vele), Paul Aiton (Penrith), Jessie Joe (Canterbury), Makali Aizue (Hull KR), Trevor Exton (Ipswich Jets), Neville Costigan (Canberra Raiders), James Nightingale (Penrith), Rod Griffin (Wests Tigers), Larson Marabe (Agmark Gurias), Kevin Prior (Redcliffe Dolphins), Jay Aston (Melbourne Storm), Tu'u Maori (Sydney Roosters), Menzie Yere (Island Gurias), Jason Chan (Windsor Wolves), Nick Ubile (Bingtangor Lahanis) and Sam Joe (Melbourne Storm).
Coach: Adrian Lam.

Danger man: Stanley Gene. Older than the Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney but on his day an even more majestic spectacle. His enthusiasm will set the lead for the rest of the Kumuls.

World Cup pedigree: Played in the 1985-88 tournament. Won all three group games in 2000 but were beaten 22-8 by Wales in quarter-finals.

World Cup odds: 150-1.

New Zealand

Nathan Cayless (Parramatta, capt), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Nathan Fien (New Zealand Warriors), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Sika Manu (Melbourne), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Jason Nightingale (St George-Illawarra), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Sam Rapira (NZ Warriors), Jerome Ropati (NZ Warriors), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Evarn Tuimavave (NZ Warriors), Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors),
Coach: Stephen Kearney.

Danger man: Benji Marshall. A quick, exciting and elusive half-back who has made a big impression in the NRL with Wests Tigers this year. Will have to be watched close for the full 80 minutes.

World Cup pedigree: Have played in every World Cup since 1954 but never won it. Runners-up in 985-88 and 2000.

World Cup odds: 6-1.

Tonga

Fraser Anderson (Cronulla), Louis Anderson (Warrington), Andrew Emelio (Canterbury), Richard Fa'aoso (Newcastle), Awen Guttenbeil (Castleford), Michael Jennings (Penrith), Antonio Kaufusi (Melbourne), Toshio Laiseni (Newtown), Taniela Lasalo (unattached), Epalahame Lauaki (NZ Warriors), Tevita Leo-Latu (Wakefield), Willie Manu (Hull), Manase Manuokafoa (South Sydney), Feleti Mateo (Parramatta), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Eddie Paea (South Sydney), Lopini Paea (Sydney Roosters), Mickey Paea (Sydney Roosters), Fetuli Talanoa (South Sydney), Joel Tauf'ao (unatt), Esikeli Tonga (Gold Coast), Taniela Tuiaki (unatt), Etuate Uaisele (Newcastle), Cooper Vuna (Newcastle), Tony Williams (Parramatta).
Coach: Jim Dymock.

Danger man: Feleti Mateo. Ex-London player is a figure with significant presence. Just as effective at stand-off as he is at loose forward. Great ability to release the ball in a tackle.

World Cup pedigree: Qualified for first World Cup in 1995 and drew against Papua New Guinea and lost by a point to New Zealand. Again failed to make knockout stages in 2000.

World Cup odds: 150-1.

Samoa

George Carmont (Wigan), Dave Faiumu (Huddersfield), Harrison Hansen (Wigan), Ali Lauitiiti (Leeds), Tuaalagi Lepupa (unatt), Kylie Leuluai (Leeds), Wayne McDade (Auckland Vulcans), Francis Meli (St Helens), Joseph Paulo (Penrith), Frank Puletua, Tony Puletua (both Penrith), Ben Roberts (Canterbury), Tangi Ropati (East Tigers), Smith Samau (Gold Coast), Lagi Setu (St George Illawarra), Terrence Seuseu (Cronulla), David Solomona (Bradford), Willie Talau (St Helens), Alby Talipeau (unatt), Misi Taulapapa (Cronulla), Ben Te'o (Wests Tigers), Tupu Ulufale (unatt), Matt Utai (Canterbury), Nigel Vagana (South Sydney).
Coach: John Akland.

Danger man: George Carmont. Super League Dream Team member has bags of experience and the form needed to help the Samoans reach the next stage.

World Cup pedigree: Made debut in 2000, beating Scotland and New Zealand Maori but lost to Ireland. Hammered 66-10 by Australia in quarter-finals.

World Cup odds: 66-1.

Scotland

Chris Armit (Canterbury), Danny Brough (Wakefield), Dean Colton (Doncaster), Paddy Coupar (Edinburgh Eagles), Gavin Cowan (Wests Tigers), John Duffy (Widnes), Ben Fisher (Hull KR), Andrew Henderson (Castleford), Ian Henderson (Auckland Warriors), Kevin Henderson (Wakefield), Jack Howieson (Sheffield), Paul Jackson (Huddersfield), Wade Liddell (Brisbane Easts), Scott Logan (Canberra), Neil Lowe (Keighley), David McConnell (Leigh), Duncan McGilvery (Wakefield), Iain Morrison (Widnes), Gareth Morton (Widnes), Mick Nanyn (Oldham), Lee Paterson (Widnes), Michael Robertson (Manley), Jon Steel (Hull KR), Oliver Wilkes (Wakefield).
Coach: Steve McCormack.

Danger man: Ian Henderson. Been in top form for New Zealand Warriors since leaving Bradford and will be at the heart of their attacking plays from hooker.

World Cup pedigree: Played in 1995 Emerging Nations World Cup. Played in 2000 World Cup, losing all three games to Ireland, NZ Maori and Samoa.

World Cup odds: 150-1.