Looking at the squads the teams are putting together, you'd say Australia, England and the Kiwis are in front of this group of teams, but I honestly think looking at the squads they're closer than they've ever been. I think Cook Islands and USA are a bit behind, but the others are all extremely close, which of this lot will make the semis? I can't choose between the lot of them...

I've enabled re voting if you change your mind!

i have gone for wales, think there forward pack will push them on and i think they will be more settled than any of the other make shift teams. the only player who i think wont be meeting up regular for wales would by tyson frizel.

I've gone for Fiji...but in reality, with the exception of may PNG, it is dependant on how many NRL players each nation can find relevant grandparents for.

You see! I did a list of these teams on RLP and I had Fiji and Wales as my bottom 2!

Really can't split them tbh,just looking forward to the matches!

EDIT: Thinking about it more I think I'd put Ireland last (which is a shame considering their group!). Then Scotland.

At the top it's between France, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Italy imo

2 posts before we get the now customary moan about international eligibility.

You guys are slipping.

PNG are probably the strongest side but they don't travel that well historically.

Papua for me there a settled side Wales are poor and just because some of the lesser teams have nrl players in them it doesn't improve them that much to make a difference

I have gone with Italy just because of the quality of nrl and super league players they have got in their squad eg the minichiellos, craig gower, kade snowden,Shaun Berrigan and Terry Campese

France? I seem to say it every year and they disappoint but they look strong on paper.

FIJI only because they announced today that if fit John Sutton will be playing for them. The Sims brothers are in the pack so a lot of talent there.

Scotland will shock people though and I reckon are on for the 1/4 finals with Wallace and Brough kicking to some quality Aussies as well. Linnet is very under rated.

Tonga could be the surprise package of this world cup, could potentially have a very powerful team.

I'm not actually convinced that England are a shoe in for the 3rd spot!

It will be between Tonga, Samoa and Fiji depending upon who makes themselves available. I'd say Tonga at this stage.

From what I gather, potential NRL/SL players for each team may be (including some that probably won't):

I've bolded the ones who were born in that country (afaik) for you 'birthers'.

Cook Islands: Dominique Peyroux (New Zealand Warriors); Zane Tetevano (Newcastle Knights); Keith Lulia (Bradford Bulls); Zeb Taia (Catalans Dragons); Anthony Gelling (Wigan Warriors)

USA: Cheyse Blair, Joseph Paulo, Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels); Clint Newton (Penrith Panthers); Nathan Massey (Castleford Tigers); Ryan McGoldrick (Salford City Reds?)

Wales: Tyson Frizell (St George Dragons); Ben Evans, Elliot Kear (Bradford Bulls); Michael Channing, Daniel Fleming (Castleford Tigers); Craig Kopczak (Huddersfield Giants); Jordan James (if he still fancies playing); Garreth Carvell, Lee Briers, Rhys Evans, Rhys Williams (Warrington Wolves); Phil Joseph, Lloyd White (Widnes Vikings); Gil Dudson, Ben Flower, Rhodri Lloyd, Andy Powell (Wigan Warriors)

Ireland: Damien Blanch (Catalans Dragons); Scott Grix, Stuart Fielden (Huddersfield Giants); Shannon McDonnell (Hull FC); Sean Gleeson (Hull KR); Ben Currie, Ben Harrison, Chris Bridge, Simon Grix, Tyrone McCarthy (Warrington Woves); Eamon O'Carroll, Dave Allen, [Paddy Flynn?, [Ben Kavanagh? (Widnes Vikings); Pat Richards, Michael McIlorum (Wigan Warriors)

Scotland: Peter Wallace (Brisbane Broncos); Matthew Russell (Gold Coast Titans); James McManus (Newcastle Knights); Kane Linnett (North Queensland Cowboys); Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers); Daryl Clarke, Jonathan Walker, Lee Gilmour (Castleford Tigers); Ian Henderson (Catalans Dragons); Danny Brough, Dale Ferguson, Joe Wardle (Huddersfield Giants); Richard Horne (Hull FC); Graeme Horne, Rhys Lovegrove, Cory Patterson, Adam Walker (Hull KR); Liam Hood (Leeds Rhinos); Ben Fisher, Michael Robertson (London Broncos);

France: Dane Chisholm (Manly Sea-Eagles); Clint Greenshields (North Queensland Cowboys); Heath L'Estrange (Bradford Bulls); Theo Fages (Salford City Reds); Antoni Maria, Damien Cardace, David Guasch, Eloi Pelissier, Frederic Vaccari, Gregory Mounis, Jamal Fakir, Jason Baitieri, Jean-Phillippe Baile, Julian Bousquet, Kevin Larroyer, Mathias Pala, Michael Simon, Morgan Escare, Oliver Elima, Remi Casty, Thomas Bosc, Vincent Duport, William Barthau etc (Catalans Dragons)

Italy: Shaun Berrigan, Terry Campese (Canberra Raiders); Mark Minichiello (Gold Coast Titans); Craig Gower, Josh Mantellato, Kade Snowden (Newcastle Knights); Joel Reithmuller (North Queensland Cowboys); Cameron Ciraldo, Tom Humble (Penrith Panthers); Aiden Guerra, Anthony Minichiello (Sydney Roosters); James Tedesco (Wests Tigers); Chris Nero (Salford City Reds?); Anthony Laffranchi (St Helens)

Papua New Guinea: Joe Bond (Brisbane Broncos); David Mead (Gold Coast Titans); Neville Costigan (Newcastle Knights); Tyson Martin, Ray Thompson (North Queensland Cowboys); James Segeyaro (Penrith Panthers); Jason Chan (Huddersfield Giants); Paul Aiton (Wakefield Wildcats) [then below this they have championship players like Yere, and a stronger domestic competition than the rest, bar [imaybe[/i France

Fiji: Jayson Bukuya (Cronulla Sharks); Sisa Waqa (Melbourne Storm); Akuilla Uate, Kevin Naiqama, Korbin Sims (Newcastle Knights); Ashton Sims, Tariq Sims (North Queensland Cowboys); Jarryd Hayne, Jacob Loko, Semi Radradra (Parramatta Eels); Wes Naiqama (Penrith Panthers); Kane Evans (Sydney Roosters); John Sutton (South Sydney Rabbitohs); Marika Koroibete, Lote Tuquiri (Wests Tigers) + Petero Civoniceva (Redcliffe Dolphins)

Samoa: Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos); Anthony Milford (Canberra Raiders); Tim Lafai (Canterbury Bulldogs); Mark Taufua, Matthew Wright (Cronulla Sharks); Steve Matai (Manly Sea-Eagles); Junior Sa'u, Lagi Setu (Melbourne Storm); Carlos Tuimavave (New Zealand Warriors); Kalifa Faifai Loa, Antonio Winterstein (North Queensland Cowboys); Ben Roberts (Parramatta Eels); Mose Masoe (Penrith Panthers); Roy Asotasi, Jeff Lima, Ben Te'o (South Sydney Rabbitohs); Leeson Ah Mau, Daniel Vidot (St George Dragons); Lama Tasi, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters); Masada Iosefa, Eddy Pettybourne, Matt Utai (Wests Tigers); David Faiumu (Huddersfield Giants); Constantine Mika (Hull KR); Kylie Leuluai (Leeds Rhinos); Francis Meli, Tony Puletua (St Helens); Ali Lauitiiti (Wakefield Wildcats); Patrick Ah Van, Willie Isa, Frank Winterstein (Widnes Vikings); Harrison Hansen (Wigan Warriors)

Tonga: David Hala (Brisbane Broncos); Tony Williams (Canterbury Bulldogs); Anthony Tupou (Cronulla Sharks); Brent Kite, Richard Fa'aoso (Manly Sea-Eagles); Siosaia Vave (Melbourne Storm); Glen Fisiiahi, Konrad Hurrell, Feleti Mateo (New Zealand Warriors); Siuatonga Likiliki, Willie Mason (Newcastle Knights); Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys); Taniela Lasalo, Fuifui Moimoi, Willie Tonga (Parramatta Eels); Sika Manu (Penrith Panthers); Atelea Vea (St George Dragons); Michael Jennings, Samisoni Langi, Sam Moa, Michael Oldfield, Nafe Seluini (Sydney Roosters); Ben Murdoch-Masila (Wests Tigers); Manase Manuokafoa (Bradford Bulls); Lopini Paea (Catalans Dragons); Ukuma Ta'ai (Huddersfield Giants); Mickey Paea (Hull KR); Antonio Kaufusi (London Broncos); Willie Manu (St Helens); Epalahame Lauaki (Wigan Warriors)

After reading Bovrick's post I'll change my mind and say Samoa should comfortably be the 4th best team if they get commitments from a lot of those players mentioned.

Big mal is coaching png and they've got some decent NRL players in the squad. Png RL has been spending big on development of the kumuls.

The "2nd tier" is really exciting as you have four, possibly five, very strong equal teams. Take you pick from ong, Fiji, Samoa, tonga and possibly Italy.

See, I have a feeling about Scotland myself, and not just because they will be my 2nd team in the competition. They do have some quality players in their squad, and I think they can produce a shock or two.

Just be prepared though for someone to question your knowledge about RL just because they disagree with you.....

Wales have a quality pack but not much in the backs unless Briers plays. If he does I reckon they can be the 4th team.

Scotland and Wales are like a mirror image of one another. The backs of Scotland could do some serious damage, as long as their forwards don't get smashed. The biggest problem for Wales is in the spine (which is probably the opposite of where they were at in 2000), whereas for Scotland they have probably the form SL half, a steady half with lots of experience and good defence, and a lot of depth in the hooking role.

I think France's strength will depend if Dureau makes himself available for them.

France concern me a bit, 90% of the squad is made up of an upper mid-table SL side. Until they get more players at other SL/NRL clubs they're going to struggle. Expect lots of errors and a high penalty count from them as usual.

Wales look pretty strong, but is Lee Briers playing?? Thought he'd retired?

Quite probably not, but I hope he does, Wales really need him. Like I said there's probably quite a few on that list that won't play for those nations. Jennings, T.Williams, Hayne, Uate, RTS, McIllorum etc probably won't play for the teams listed there, more likely to take squad positions in the Australia/New Zealand/England camps (or in Williams' case just not play).

That's exactly what the "world" cup needs.... More Aussies/English withlinks to minor nations. Didn't Jamie Peacock have a packet of French Fries the other day ??? Get him in the France squad

Where did that poster make any mention of English or Aussie players? WTF are you talking about?