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The Southern Hemisphere sides still have their Rugby Championship to play - in the earlier time slot of July and August - so it is harder to judge them as this stage, although you'd expect it to follow the pattern of their 2018 performances.
For the Northern Hemisphere sides, all had high points during the Six Nations and plenty to grab hold of going into the World Cup, but all - with the exception of Wales - will feel they have a lot of work to do in order to compete for the William Webb Ellis Trophy.
I take a look at the key nations' potential World Cup route, how far they could go and where your money should be going.
READ: Full World Cup Guide: Schedule, fixtures, TV coverage, history
*Odds correct of 19/3/19
Like England and Ireland, Scotland were another nation to endure a disappointing Six Nations. After four years of building and improving they would always plateau at some point, not helped by a rack of injuries at the start of this year.
They will improve again in the future and their fightback draw with England could be the springboard for that. If they have their key players fit for the World Cup and keep them that way during the tournament then they could be the shock underdog. Remember that very few expected much in 2015 and they reached the quarter-finals before being controversially being knocked out by Australia.
They will need to improve on foreign soil though, as their record away from Murrayfield is woeful. They'd have to beat Ireland in order to win Pool A, as a runner-up spot should mean a quarter-final against New Zealand, which, even with improvement, would end in defeat.
Predicted World Cup
Quarter-Finalist
Route: Pool A runners-up - QF New Zealand - out
With hosts Japan in the Pool, Scotland will have a huge fight for second place. A lot will depend on just how good, or not, Ireland are in the Pool - as they are slow starters in competitions.
They could lose to Japan, so realistically it is a second or third place in the Pool and progress will stop at best at the quarter-finals with New Zealand waiting.
France claimed two victories and looked useful in the first half of the opening game against Wales on home soil. But ultimately all this papers over the crack. The country's rugby is a mess from top to bottom and needs a complete overhaul. If their World Cup is the disaster it should be, then it should finally bring the moment to snap the French out of their arrogant state and make them admit they have serious problems.
Yes, the French can still make magic happen and World Cups certainly inspire them. They were in a total mess in 2011, with all the players refusing to speak with the head coach. However, they still reached the final and should have beaten the All Blacks in it.
Predicted World Cup
Pool C third place or Quarter-Finalist
Route: Pool C runners-up - QF v Wales - out
I cannot make up my mind whether France will finish second or third in Pool C, which contains England and Argentina. Either way the best they should do is make the quarter-finals. If they go further than that then some other nations will have really blown it.
Italy certainly improved in this Six Nations. They competed for longer and pushed their opponents harder, making them really earn their victories, unlike in recent years. But they still came away with no wins.
They should have beaten France and got into winning positions against Wales and Ireland but schoolboy mistakes and basic skill-set errors cost them dearly and it must drive coach Conor O'Shea mad.
He can do all the coaching he can, but whether it is poor skills base or a mental problem, it seems set in the Italian way and is something that cannot be easily fixed.
Predicted World Cup
Pool B third place
With New Zealand and South Africa in their Pool then there is no way Italy will reach the knock out stages. Their best result will be beating Namibia and Canada and hope they don't get humiliated by the big two.
The back-to-back World Champions, the only nation to win the tournament three times, the number one ranked side in the world, and the Rugby Championship holders yet again. They are overwhelming favourites again and with their captain Kieran Reed retiring from international duty, they have extra motivation to continue their dominance.
They can be beaten, Ireland and South Africa achieved that rare feat in 2018 and England pushed them close in the autumn too. But after faulting in World Cups for over a decade and 'bottling it' as title favourites, the Kiwi's now find the pressure inspiring and find another gear in the World Cup.
Predicted World Cup
Winner
Route: Pool B winners - QF v Scotland - SF v England - Final v Wales
There whole tournament comes down to the first match against South Africa - one of the few teams that will be confident of beating the Kiwis. Being the first match for both this will depend on who is less rusty and it is the one time New Zealand might be cold and vulnerable.
If they win the group as expected they will have a straightforward quarter-final against Scotland or hosts Japan. Then another big one against England. Again, if New Zealand haven't been tested since their opening game they might not be battle hardened and have some soft spots. We might be clutching at straws here and a lot will depend on the shape England are in at that point.
Once in the Final they will be vastly more experienced and confident than whoever they play, which will stand them in good stead. If they face Wales they've not lost to the to them since 1953.
Despite November defeats to England and Wales, South Africa had an outstanding 2018 as they really grew and developed as a side. They beat England in the summer tour 2-1 and defeated New Zealand in the Rugby Championship to finish second in the competition.
They are still a developing side which means they sometimes lack composure and consistency, as we saw in November. When they are confident they are so powerful and now have an excellent all-round game. During a World Cup the question will be how they can handle setbacks in the most hostile situations.
The Rugby Championship this summer will tell us more about whether they've built on their promising 2018 and become even stronger or not for the World Cup.
Predicted World Cup
Semi-finalists
Route: Pool B runners-up - QF v Ireland - SF v Wales - out
As above, a lot rests on that opening Pool clash with the reigning champions and South Africa, having beaten New Zealand in 2018, will fancy their chances.
On current form you'd expect them to see off Ireland - but again it's a close call. Then Wales would be disappointed - having beaten the Springbok in November - not to see them off in the semis, but again this is a 'coin toss' of a game that could go either way. South Africa could go out the quarter-finals stage or go all the way to the Final - that's the beauty of this World Cup.
If they do reach the final and face New Zealand, they could cause an upset to win the trophy for a third time.
Again, we will know more about Australia after the summer's Rugby Championship, but we are expecting them to be fighting with Argentina to avoid finishing bottom.
They had a dreadful 2018 and look a shell of their former powerful selves both on and off the pitch. It is not the first time they go into a World Cup year with problems to then go and shine in the tournament itself. A bit like the German football team, they seem to get it right for most World Cups. However, they currently look in too much of a mess to get near the trophy.
Predicted World Cup
Quarter-Finalists
Route: Pool D runners-up - QF v England - out
Wales should beat then to top the Pool, meaning the Aussies will face England in the knockout stages. These two raise their game against each other and it means anything can happen, but England are a class above their old enemy as it stands.
A nation in transition who have endured a tough couple of years. However, they performed better in the 2018 Rugby Championship to restore hope they are on the up again. That said, their autumn tour of Europe was disappointing.
Their golden generations have gone, but their history shows they peak for World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 2015 and quarters in 2011.
Predicted World Cup
Quarter-Finalists or Pool exit
I can't decide between France or Argentina to finish behind England in their Pool to progress to the knockout stages. Really, Argentina should be looking to achieve this, with France in such a mess at present. If they reach the quarters, Wales would await and Argentina could be put to the sword.