It is easy to see why, as soon as Pool D was drawn, it was described as the archetypal group of death. With host nation France set to do battle with Ireland and Argentina – three of the top six nations in the IRB World Rankings - one genuine title contender will bow out before the quarter final stages.

France have the best Rugby World Cup pedigree of the three, having twice been losing finalists, although Ireland and Argentina have both reached quarterfinals in the past, ironically losing to Les Bleus between them at the last three tournaments.

Argentina and France – who meet in the opening match at Stade de France on 7 September – will also have an extra motivation, if ever one were needed, with both Marcelo Loffreda and Bernard Laporte stepping down as coach after the tournament.

Ireland and Argentina, though, are certainly no strangers in World Cup history, the Pumas having won their quarterfinal playoff 28-24 in 1999 to automatically qualify for the next tournament, only for Ireland to then turn the tables with a 16-15 victory in Adelaide.

The Pumas, many of whom play their rugby in France and so missed the series defeat of Ireland in June, will have revenge in mind at the Parc des Princes on 30 September in the last Pool D match which should determine the two that progress to the knockout stage.

For both Georgia and Namibia – just like in 2003, drawn in the same Pool as Ireland and Argentina – the Stade Félix-Bollaert in Lens on 26 September could become somewhere they never forget, as the venue of their first ever Rugby World Cup victory.

The two sides have met only once before, Georgia gaining a psychological advantage with their 26-18 victory during the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in June, one they will hope to repeat with their traditional strong defence creating a platform for backs to shine.

Players to look out for include David Skrela for France, twins Felipe and Manuel Contepomi in the Pumas backline, Georgian fly half Merab Kvirikashvili and his counterpart Justinus van der Westhuizen, who scored four tries on his Namibia debut.