Scotland
Team Preview
Coach:
Frank Hadden
Previous World Cups:
1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
Best Performance:
Fourth 1991
Played:
24 - 14 wins, 1 draw, 9 losses
World Ranking:
No.11
Fixtures:
v Portgual, St-Etienne, September 9
v Romania, Edinburgh, September 18
v New Zealand, Edinburgh, September 23
v Italy, St-Etienne, September 29
Facts:
1. Former captain Gavin Hastings collected 225 World Cup points between 1987 and 1995, more than any other player.
2. Scotland was involved in the only draw in a World Cup, finishing 20-20 with France in 1987.
3. The 100-8 win over Japan in 2004 is Scotland's biggest win.
4. Scotland's best World Cup performance came in 1991 when it finished fourth.
5. The pre-match anthem 'Flower of Scotland' has been used since 1990.
Key Players:
CHRIS CUSITER
Cusiter has three times suffered serious injuries while playing for Scotland and has faced a battle with Mike Blair for the No.9 jersey.
He also suffered bitter disappointment during the British and Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand in 2005 when he was overlooked for a Test spot by Sir Clive Woodward despite some impressive displays in the mid-week games.
So the 25-year-old will be keen to make up for lost time in his first World Cup and prove he is among the best halfbacks in the game.
He has the pace to move Scotland forward, is tenacious in the tackle and his delivery is efficient.
The Perpignan summer recruit showed his class in a solid performance against England earlier this year despite having made just one club appearance for Borders following a four-month layoff with a shoulder injury.
SIMON TAYLOR
Taylor has returned to the form that saw him hailed as the golden boy of Scottish rugby following an injury-plagued period in his career.
The back-rower played a pivotal role during the past two Six Nations campaigns and won his 50th cap in this year's victory over Wales at Murrayfield.
Taylor has been selected for two British and Irish Lions tours - scoring on his debut as a 21-year-old against Western Australia in 2001 - but injury twice forced him to pull out of Test games.
The No.8 suffered a serious knee injury in the final Six Nations clash against Ireland in 2004 which kept him out for a year.
After a hamstring injury forced him to return home from the Lions' tour of New Zealand in 2005, Taylor then suffered a knee injury that saw him sidelined for six months last year.
But the 27-year-old, whose work-rate and physical presence will be vital for the Scots, has recently fought back to his best.
His tackling will be crucial and he carries a threat in the opposition 22.
Taylor will be eager to impress in France after agreeing a summer move from Edinburgh to Stade Francais.
SEAN LAMONT
The Northampton winger possesses the pace and power to make a difference to the Scottish attack.
He was voted the Famous Grouse Scotland Player of the Season and bagged two tries in the victory over France in the previous year's Six Nations.
The Perth-born player has benefited from his spell in the Guinness Premiership following his move from Glasgow in 2005, developing new ways of getting past tight defences in England.
Scotland will heavily lean on Lamont's try-scoring ability - he scored four in one game for Northampton against Saracens last year.
JASON WHITE
Back-row forward White has proved himself an inspirational leader for Scotland but he will have little match practice before the World Cup after recovering from a serious knee injury.
White skippered Scotland to victories over England and France in 2006 before rupturing his cruciate ligament against Romania in November.
He is one of the hardest tacklers in the world game and his last-ditch tackling was vital to the Scots in those famous Six Nations triumphs.
Scotland will hope White is back in the groove for its final and most crucial group game against Italy so it can cut out the loose play that resulted in defeat against the Azzurri earlier this year.
CHRIS PATERSON
Paterson skippered Scotland during this year's Six Nations campaign in the absence of the injured White.
But his kicking skills outweigh his leadership abilities - he was statistically the best kicker in the world in 2006.
The Edinburgh player's worth to Scotland was evident during its only Six Nations win this year when Paterson converted all seven of his side's penalties in a 21-9 win over Wales.
Paterson's versatility should also prove useful during the tournament - he has played at fullback and wing for the Scots and was moved inside to stand-off during each of Scotland's Six Nations games this year.
And coach Frank Hadden is considering starting Paterson in the No.10 role to utilise his kicking prowess throughout the game.
Hadden has previously resisted calls to move Paterson to the playmaker role, even during his spell in charge at Edinburgh.
But he hinted he was ready to transform Paterson into his first-choice No.10 after the Six Nations when he claimed the 29-year-old had developed the experience and understanding for the position.