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?

he missed the point! The reason the Kiwis are now so competitive is because there are NZ eligible players in every NRL club and plenty of SL clubs, they don;t just rely on the NZ Warriors to supply talent. Better jnr programmes in France along with Toulouse in SL and better scouting by SL and NRL clubs to identify and bring through French players would lead to a much much stronger French national side.