Italy coach Nick Mallett has largely kept faith with the team that upset France in the Six Nations, making only two changes to the starting line-up to play Australia in the opening Pool C match.
David Ellison, a Maori elder and descendant of the man responsible for the All Black jersey, has urged Argentina to exact revenge on England.
England manager Martin Johnson is "looking forward" to finally getting the Rugby World Cup underway.
Wales have made three changes to the team that beat England last month for the clash with defending champions South Africa in the opening World Cup Pool D match in Wellington on Sunday.
Italy coach Nick Mallett has made two changes to his line-up for the World Cup clash with Australia on Sunday.
Munster scrum-half Conor Murray has won the race for the No.9 shirt for Ireland's World Cup opener against the USA on Sunday.
Rhys Priestland has been handed the Wales fly-half role for Sunday's World Cup Pool D clash against South Africa.
Victory is Scotland head coach Andy Robinson's solitary aim for Saturday's World Cup Pool B opener with Romania in Invercargill.
Scotland will be out to gain some valuable early momentum when they take on minnows Romania in the opening Pool B encounter at Rugby Park in New Zealand's southernmost city of Invercargill on Saturday.
Young Wales wing George North has enjoyed a sensational first year of international rugby since scoring a brace of tries on his debut against South Africa 10 months ago.
The Rugby World Cup kicks off on September 8 and with the anticipation building Rugby Rugby presents Mark Freemon's blog, A Day in the Life of the Rugby World Cup. A native of North Carolina, Mark now lives in New Zealand with his wife and since 1999 has come to learn the importance of the game in the 'land of the long white cloud.'
Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation and sculpture in Amarillo, Texas, and is sporting a rugby tribute.
Earlier this week the team coaches had a bit of a get together in Auckland with RWC Referee Manager Paddy O'Brien to make sure they are all on side with his approach to this years event. In France 2007, there was a crack down on high tackles (Paul Emerick can tell you all about that) this year its about cracking down on offsides and tactics to slow the game down at the breakdown.
Athletic competition evokes words like "heroic" and "tragic." But the true meanings of these labels are quickly clarified when real tragedy strikes and true heroes emerge.
With the Rugby World Cup starting this week, the tweets are heating up and you can follow what players and teams are saying with Rugby Rugby.
