Rugby World Cup 2011: 10 to watch - in pictures

Quade Cooper (Australia) Look, mate, no one is saying Dan Carter is past it. But no fly-half in the world, Carter included, causes defenders such nightmares. The off-loads are simply sensational, the exploitation of space sublime. He is not always so clever on the back foot, and he is helped by having Will Genia, the world’s best scrum-half, inside him. But you’d still pay to watch him run with the ball, regardless of your nationality Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Kurtley Beale (Australia) If Cooper doesn’t sting you, the chances are Beale will. He has just been named the Wallabies’ player of the year, a hell of an accolade when you study the competition. Lightning quick, the schoolboy scrum-half has taken to the full-back role with such aplomb there is no one to touch him. With Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor and Digby Ioane at his elbow, Australia will definitely score tries Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand) He divides opinion in New Zealand: some think he is poorly served by a pushy agent, others reckon he is being disloyal to the All Blacks by declining to commit to union beyond this World Cup. What no one disputes is his colossal talent. Ma'a Nonu and the outstanding Conrad Smith are the established Kiwi centre pairing but Williams's off-loading prowess off the bench would add a different dimension Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

David Pocock (Australia) Look, mate, no one is saying Richie McCaw is past it either. But Pocock is reminding us of McCaw in his younger days: rock-hard at the breakdown, wonderfully fit and shrewd with it. Openside flankers will have a big part to play at this World Cup and the All Blacks have already discovered that Pocock means business. If Australia do drag the Webb Ellis Cup back across the Tasman, Pocock’s ball-winning ability will be at the heart of their success Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Manu Tuilagi (England) Too soon, we all felt in January. How wrong we were. At only 20, Tuilagi could explode on to the world scene at this tournament not unlike Jonah Lomu did in 1995. Prodigiously strong, blessed with acceleration and an instinctive rugby brain, he is the brightest star to line up in England's midfield since Will Greenwood retired. Still learning defensively but hits like the crack of doom when he gets it right Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Cory Jane (New Zealand) So let's just get this clear: New Zealand have left out Hosea Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko in favour of Jane and Zac Guildford. Either Graham Henry has got it badly wrong or Jane is destined to be one of the key men at this World Cup. I tend towards the latter view: Jane is big, strong and direct and is a good bet to finish as the tournament’s highest try-scorer Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Heinrich Brussow (South Africa) Not many people are tipping South Africa to retain their world title but Brussow is their not-so-secret weapon. Like Pocock he is lethal around the breakdown and acts as a perfect foil for the bigger Bok forwards. His battle with Wales's Sam Warburton could be one of the early highlights of the competition, although Juan Smith is a big loss for the South Africans Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

George North (Wales) This World Cup will mark the end of the road for Shane Williams, among the all-time great Welsh wizards. The strapping North is a completely different breed of winger but he has all the tools to develop into a serious weapon at Test level. If James Hook and co can work him into some space, his profile looks set to soar and Wales will feel more confident of reaching the last eight Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Kahn Fotuali'i (Samoa) Another confident prediction: this tournament will see Samoa seize at least one eye-catching scalp. They have been training together all summer and have the raw material to kick on from their shock summer win over Australia. Pulling the strings will be Fotuali'i, who could have become an All Black had the New Zealand selectors opted to reward his form for the Crusaders. Heading for the Ospreys after the World Cup Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

Jacques Burger (Namibia) There are a host of good players playing for unfancied teams: Georgia's big forward Mamuka Gorgodze, Tonga's Soane Tonga'uiha, Fiji's Masi Matadigo and Russia's Vasily Artemyev to name but four. No one, though, will embody the underdog spirit better than the piratical-looking Burger, determined to display the same commitment in a Namibian jersey as he consistently does for Saracens Photograph: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images