Pool B Preview

The home team may not say it out loud, but the expectation is that they will reach the final against New Zealand. They'll fancy their chances to finish top of their pool comfortably with Ireland and the USA likely to present a challenge but not an insurmountable one.

They'll rack up a good score against Kazakhstan and should at least reach the semis at the Stoop. If that sounds over-confident, it's simply because England come into the competition in great form, as the 6 Nations champions and they will have gained much confidence from beating New Zealand last November. But there is the pressure of being the home team and there is a feeling that as the best prepared and resourced team at the tournament there is no excuse this time for them not to lift the title. That's easier said than done though and every team that play England lifts their game - so the hosts will have to be on top form to lift the title they so crave.

A The Richmond scrum-half is a key cog in England's wheel and is deceptively quick around the fringes. Her tackling makes her an extra back row for England and she provides a great link between England's mobile pack and their pacy wide players.

It is vital that the wannabe champs get their tournament of to a good start and the Irish must be beaten. England have a better all round team but Ireland have been pushing them closer in recent years.

The Irish have been steadily improving over the last four years, developing from an inconsistent 6 Nations team to the competition's third best team in the past two seasons. Their first match against England is a tough opener but they may be glad to get it over with early. England should win that match but if Ireland can push them hard and make it a tight game they'll keep themselves in with a good chance of the best runner up from the pool stages.

The Ireland V USA game is likely to be the key game for the Irish as they will expect to beat Kazakhstan in their other game. A semi-final place would be a spectacular return for Ireland, a country with limited playing numbers, but more likely is a chance to finish in the top 6.

The former captain is one of the best number 8s in the world and with Ireland's scrum often unsteady, she is regularly called on to clear up at the base. She's an intelligent player with strong ball skills and regularly acts as a "sweeper" for Ireland, taking high balls and setting up good positions for her side.

. Ireland know that beating England may be asking too much of their improving squad so the USA are the main team standing in their way of second spot and the chance to make the semis.

The USA have had a mixed run-in to this campaign with two losses to their nearest rivals Canada clouding what has been an intense build-up. Last summer the USA, coached by former World Cup winner Kathy Flores, showed well at the Nations Cup and the followed a good all round performance with a win over Canada earlier this year.

However the run of two losses recently will have worried Flores ahead of a pool with some potentially tricky ties. This is a big World Cup for the USA with the game of 7s on the rise back home and they have pulled out all the stops to promote and fundraise for their national team. Their overall showing will depend how they fare against the Irish which is a must-win game for them.

A hugely impressive physical player, Knight is a key backrow member of the US team. She has been in outstanding form for her country over the past year and offers some real muscle at the breakdown for the US. She'll also be a go-to ball carrier for her team and Flores will be hoping she stays fit throughout.

: . Like the Irish, the USA are well aware that England are likely to top this pool so their came against Ireland is vital. The USA harbour high hopes of a top four finish in this World Cup so a loss against the Irish is unthinkable.

The side other pool opponents will be eyeing up as the opportunity to rack up points, the Kazakhs have no intention in coming to London to roll over. A strong physical team, Kazakhstan rugby suffers from geographical isolation and a lack of funding so they may not be as strong as at previous World Cups but there is no doubt their strength up front will make them difficult to shake off.

The Kazakhs have also been playing a lot of 7s recently, most recently at the Asian 7s competition in China, so they have been some way active on the international scene. The team will relish playing Ireland, a side they have beaten twice in the past, in 1998 and 2000, and though Ireland are much improved, their opponents would relish three wins in a row over their pool opposition.

The experienced backrow player was named in the 2006 World Cup All Star team and will need to bring all of her nous to the table if Kazakstan are to have a good tournment.She can flank or play number 8 and is a strong ball carrier in a physical Kazakh pack.

The Kazakhs will find the going tough in all of their games but their first match against the USA will tell us just how capable this team are. We rarely see the Kazakhstan team play in Europe so it will be fascinating to see if their limited preparation has seriously affected them.