Richie McCaw will captain the All Blacks in his third World Cup as the hosts aim to claim the Web Ellis trophy for the first time since it was last on their home soil - the first tournament in 1987 [GALLO/GETTY]
Published On 28 Aug 201128 Aug 2011
A surprise pick for New Zealand was loose forward Victor Vito, who has played just 11 minutes of the Tri-Nations campaign which ends against Australia this weekend. The All Blacks are in Pool A with Canada, France, Japan and Tonga [GALLO/GETTY]
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Schalk Burger adjusts his cap as the Springboks(***) 30-man squad is announced on Tuesday. Burger is one of 18 players in the squad who beat England in the 2007 final in Paris [GALLO/GETTY]
Adam Byrnes, now playing for the Melbourne Rebels, has never played for Australia but has two Russian grandmothers to thank for his passport to the finals with the debutants. In Russia(***)s group are Ireland, Italy, the USA - and Australia [GALLO/GETTY]
Perhaps not surprisingly for a nation bred on American Football, the USA are taking part in their sixth Rugby World Cup, having only missed the 1995 edition. The two sports don(***)t immediately translate however - NFL games average just 11 minutes of actual playing time while at RWC 2007, the average was 35 minutes in an 80 minute match [GALLO/GETTY]
France(***)s Thierry Dusautoir was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and had never played rugby before the age of 16. Now 29, he will captain France as they bid to win their first World Cup [GALLO/GETTY]
Tomoki Yoshida has a nice sideline in sevens rugby for Japan but has played 24 full Tests for the (***)Brave Blossoms(***) and three matches in the 2007 World Cup. Japan are coached by former All Black and World Cup winner John Kirwan [GALLO/GETTY]
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The 6ft 8in Simon Shaw was born in Nairobi, Kenya, all the way back in 1973. He travels to his third World Cup with England having played a major role in their fight to the final in 2007. He was a late replacement when England won the trophy in 2003, and didn(***)t play a match. England are in Pool B with Argentina, Georgia, Romania and Scotland [GALLO/GETTY]
Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni is one of the most colourful characters in Rugby Union - and one of the best in his position. While he has Italian blood, he chose to play for the Azzurri after being passed over by his native Argentina [GALLO/GETTY]
Fiji(***)s Nicky Little poses on crutches in Marseille four years ago after his team had put Wales out of the World Cup. Fiji fell to South Africa in the quarters but, like fellow Pacific Islanders Samoa and Tonga, pose a threat to the big teams. They meet Wales again in their group along with the Springboks, Namibia and the Samoans [GALLO/GETTY]
After David Wallace was injured during Ireland(***)s defeat to England in a warm-up match, flanker Shane Jennings (pictured) was called up to the Irish World Cup squad. Wallace suffered a serious knee ligament injury that required surgery. In the picture Leinster(***)s Jennings is celebrating his team(***)s Heineken Cup Final win in May 2011. [GALLO/GETTY]
