How Roos can rule the world again One to watch: Manly playmaker Kieran Foran. Australia Possible team:Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Josh Morris, Brett Morris; Johnathan Thurston, Daly Cherry-Evans; Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (c), James Tamou, Paul Gallen, Sam Thaiday, Greg Bird. Interchange: Cooper Cronk, Luke Lewis, Nate Myles, Andrew Fifita. Raw power: Andrew Fifita. Photo: Mark Nolan Strengths The Kangaroos boast an experienced and settled squad which appears to have more depth and be better balanced than England or New Zealand. Undoubtedly there will be injuries but the likes of Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings and Robbie Farah will be able to slot into the established team with ease if needed. Their presence will also generate competition for places in the side for the important games towards the end of the tournament and help keep the likes of Josh Morris, Brett Morris and Darius Boyd on their toes, while Daly Cherry-Evans will apply pressure to Cooper Cronk for the halfback role. The Kangaroos have a hardened forward pack and the addition of Test rookies Andrew Fifita and Josh Papalli to the squad gives them an even more menacing look, while both are adept at offloading in tackles. The Australians will also be motivated to regain the World Cup after losing it for the first time in 2008 since 1970 and should have a psychological edge over the Kiwis and Lions after winning the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Four Nations tournaments. Weaknesses Rhino's flyer: Ryan Hall. This is an ageing squad, which still contains seven members of the team beaten by New Zealand in the 2008 final at Suncorp Stadium. The Kangaroos also lack depth up front, with only three specialist props in the squad. As a result, Paul Gallen, Nate Myles and Sam Thaiday will have to assume front-row duties even if Matt Scott, James Tamou and Andrew Fifita remain fit throughout the tournament. The Kangaroos also do not have a genuine utility player in the mould of Kurt Gidley or Craig Wing and will rely on Greg Bird and Luke Lewis to cover for injuries in the backs during matches. Australia coach Tim Sheens must also decide whether to stick with Cooper Cronk at halfback or try a new combination of in-form Manly playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans and Johnathan Thurston in the all-important tournament opener against England. While Australia should have no trouble accounting for Fiji and Ireland in their other pool matches, a loss to England will put them on a collision course with New Zealand in the semi-final at Wembley so it is vital they start the tournament with a resounding win. Player to watch: Andrew Fifita In turning his back on Tonga, Fifita backed himself to make the NSW Origin team and the Kangaroos squad for the World Cup and he achieved both by consistently performing at the top level all season for Cronulla and the Blues. In fact, Fifita was the No.1 player in the NRL, according to Sports Data's contributor value ranking system. If he can continue that superb form in the World Cup he could have devastating impact for Australia off the interchange bench in the manner that Tony Williams did during the 2011 Four Nations tournament. England Possible team: Sam Tomkins, Josh Charnley, Leroy Cudjoe, Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, Rangi Chase; James Graham, James Roby, George Burgess, Sam Burgess, Sean O'Loughlin, Kevin Sinfield (c). Int: Rob Burrow, Thomas Burgess, Gareth Hock, Lee Mossop. England coach Steve McNamara has been focused on the World Cup since his appointment in 2010 and he has ensured England will be the best prepared team at the tournament. Not only do they enjoy the advantage of playing on home territory but the Lions players have attended regular high-performance camps at Loughborough University and are currently in South Africa for a training camp. McNamara has also made regular trips to Australia to monitor the form of players here and the England squad boast five NRL stars and another two who will join the competition next season in Warriors recruit Sam Tomkins and Parramatta-bound forward Lee Mossop. The fact Chris Heighington and Adrian Morley were overlooked for selection underlines the strength of a squad which is young enough that the majority of the players will still be available for the next World Cup in four years' time. Rangi Chase is a superstar in Super League but the former St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers playmaker is yet to perform at that level on the international stage and the same could be said of several other England players, including Kevin Sinfield. The Lions skipper was a deserved winner of the 2012 Golden Boot on his form for Leeds but the decision to give him the award was widely criticised in Australia, where only regular Super League viewers appreciate his talent over many seasons. While Tomkins, Sam Burgess, James Graham and James Roby wouldn't be out of place in the Australian team, some of England's most exciting players such as winger Josh Charnley, centres Kallum Watkins, Zac Hardaker and Leroy Cudjoe, Liam Farrell and the Burgess twins, George and Thomas, are unproven at this level. Player to watch: Ryan Hall The Leeds flyer may not get the recognition of Sam Tomkins but Hall is widely regarded as the best winger in the world and has scored a phenomenal 149 tries in 176 Super League games. Hall has a similar strike rate at Test level, crossing for an excellent 13 tries in 15 appearances for England, including two against Australia in 2011. New Zealand Possible team: Josh Hoffman, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Simon Mannering (c), Dean Whare, Jason Nightingale; Keiran Foran, Shaun Johnson; Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Issac Luke, Ben Matulino, Frank Pritchard, Alex Glenn, Sonny Bill Williams. Interchange: Thomas Leuluai, Manu Vatuvei, Frank Paul Nu'uausala and Greg Eastwood. The Kiwis are the defending World Cup holders and have been boosted by the addition of the best player on the planet in Sonny Bill Williams, who has not played international league since the 2008 Centenary Test. Forget talk about Williams' inclusion at the expense of Tohu Harris causing disharmony as the New Zealand players will grow in confidence just because he is in the team. Even without Williams, the Kiwis had a formidable team and hooker Issac Luke, prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and five-eighth Keiran Foran are coming off outstanding NRL seasons, while Shaun Johnson is a gun No.7. The loss of Shaun Kenny-Dowall with a broken jaw has left a big gap in the centres for New Zealand as it is the one position in which they really lack depth. Dean Whare, Krisnan Inu and Bryson Goodwin are capable at Test level but none would put any real fear into opposition defences, while the Kiwis won't get the benefit of having the Roosters right-side combination of Sonny Bill Williams, Kenny-Dowall and winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Moving captain Simon Mannering or Alex Glenn from the back row would appear the best defensive option but neither would be anywhere as effective as Kenny-Dowall. Player to watch: Kieran Foran With Benji Marshall's departure to rugby union, Foran now knows he is New Zealand's long-time five-eighth and the Manly playmaker has already had the honour of leading his country in this year's Anzac Test at Canberra Stadium. While Daly Cherry-Evans has received most of the raps for his form this season, many feel Foran has been the best of the Sea Eagles halves and he had the measure of Sonny Bill Williams in the opening exchanges of last weekend's grand final. Most halfbacks play well when their side is out in front on the scoreboard but Foran is a heavy hitter in defence and always leads the chase for kicks.