Tokyo (AFP)

Owen Farrell the "brat", Alun Wyn Jones the model or Siya Kolisi the symbol? Some big names in modern rugby should be the stars of the 2019 World Championship, which kicks off Friday in Japan

+ Beauden Barrett (NZL), offbeat star

The older brother (28 years old) of the Barrett brothers - his brothers Scott and Jordie are also traveling to Japan - was the undisputed All Blacks opener since 2016, when he succeeded Dan Carter. But after three years of reign and two distinctions of best player of the world (2016, 2017), the coach Steve Hansen decided, this summer, to shift it in the back to entrust the N.10 to Richie Mo'unga. Redoubtable in footwork, Barrett will have more depth of field to find the flaw.

+ Owen Farrell (ENG), reversing history

Two Six Nations Tournaments with England; three European Cups and four championships in England with the Saracens: at 27, the record of Owen Farrell is already well developed. But the opener of the XV of the Rose also lived the home elimination in the first round of the 2015 World Cup, supreme humiliation. Which he quickly got up to turn everything on his way. Figuratively as well as clean: his dangerous and yet unsanctioned tackles on the South African André Esterhuizen and the Australian Izack Rodda at the end of 2018 have provoked controversy, making him a player whom the opposing public loves to hate.

+ Siya Kolisi (RSA), rainbow color

A quarter of a century after the end of apartheid and the first world title of the rainbow nation (1995), the designation of the flanker as the first black captain in the history of the Springboks in June 2018 was a symbol strong. But Kolisi (28), who spent his youth from a township to a posh school in Port Elizabeth thanks to his performances on the field, knows that the racial question is far from being solved in South Africa. For instigating hateful comments when he married his white wife, Rachel, or when he criticized the black quota system in the discipline: "I would not want to be selected just because of my skin color", has he dared.

+ Alun Wyn Jones (WAL), to whom it is entitled

Second line modern, powerful plating, imposing in the rucks, adroit touch and mobile despite his physique cabinet Norman (1.98 m for 118 kg), Alun Wyn Jones is not that a big template. He is also a brain, law graduate, a big heart, who lends his tracksuit to a child who shiver in the rain and wind, and a model of longevity (33 years) to a demanding position. For his fourth World Cup, the most capped player in the history of Wales (127 + 9 selections with the British Lions) can he bring the Principality even higher, in the wake of his fourth final success - and 3rd Grand Slam - in the Six Nations Tournament?

+ Rieko Ioane (NZL), the new machine

Only two years full at the international level and already 23 tenures at the All Blacks: at 22, the winger advances in his career as in the field, at full speed. Exeunt Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder, terrors of the 2015 edition (14 trials together): the prodigy of the Blues pushed them to the exit by flattening in the goal 23 times under the jersey to the fern, almost once a game (26 caps).

+ Sexton (IRL), the last vibration?

The master playing the XV of Ireland was wrong year? Jonathan Sexton had devoured 2018, concluded with a title of best world player after winning the Six Nations and the European Cup with the Leinster, among others. But 2019 was not the same ilk: Ireland has downgraded a notch at the tournament and without sexton, spared, she sank in England (57-15) in August. At 34, the Dubliner, who wants to control everything on the field, no longer has the time: the supreme title is now or never.

And also ... Good-natured, mobile and aerial, the indefatigable second line Maro Itoje (24) wants to conquer the world after having already submitted Europe with England or Saracens. He may cross the road of Eben Etzebeth, the South African colossus (2.03 m, 122 kg) who lacks neither speed nor power.

In the third row, the most salivating face-off could be between Kieran Read, the captain of the All Blacks, and Billy Vunipola, the No. 8 English puncher who hopes to be done with his injuries repeatedly. As David Pocock, the Australian captain back on the grounds after almost miss the World Cup.

Fiji will rely on their center Semi Radradra, former star of the Australian rugby league championship (NRL) which he was elected best winger in 2014 and 2015 before yielding to the sirens of the Top 14.

© 2019 AFP