Australia will go into the Rugby World Cup with the youngest squad of all 20 countries while Ireland has the oldest.

Even with veteran Radike Samo making a test comeback at the age of 35, Australia's average age of its 30-man roster is 25 years, 363 days. Ireland, Australia's Pool C rivals, has the oldest squad at 29 years, 34 days.

The average ages for squads from France, South Africa, England and New Zealand are 28.

Due to its youth, Australia also has the least amount of players backing up from the 2007 tournament, with only eight. Defending champion South Africa has 18 and New Zealand 13.

New Wallabies skipper James Horwill, the second-youngest captain at 26 behind Wales' 22-year-old leader Tom Warburton, dismissed fears Australia was too inexperienced to challenge for the title.

"Age is just a number, it doesn't mean anything," Horwill said on Monday. "The guys we've got are all certainly good enough to be there and some of them are the best players in their position in the world at the moment."

Tournament figures released Monday said Canada winger Taylor Paris is the youngest player at 18 years, 338 days; almost 20 years younger than Russia No.8 Vyacheslav Grachev, who is 38.

England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, in his fourth tournament, has the most World Cup experience with 15 matches since 1999. The most memorable was the 2003 final when his dropped goal with just 26 seconds left in extra time gave England a three-point win over Australia.

SAPA-AP