South Africa coach Nick Mallett has played down suggestions that the Springboks' game against Spain at Murrayfield tomorrow will be a mismatch.
"I don't want to make any comments about the opposition. The decision was made to expand the tournament to 20 teams," said Mallett.
"It's part of the pool stage. I'm not concerned about whether it might be a mismatch. Our players are desperate to get on to the field. Look, we have experienced Test players like Andre Vos, Krynauw Otto, Ollie Le Roux, Chris Rossouw, Ruben Kruger, Werner Swanepoel and Pieter Muller all wanting to be counted," he said.
The South Africa coach sees the match as a chance to improve on a number of areas that he considered went wrong against Scotland.
The prospect of a totally one-sided game has been a turn-off for the public. Just over 5,000 tickets have been sold. Italy coach Massimo Mascioletti has meanwhile made seven changes to his starting lineup for their Pool B wooden-spoon battle against Tonga at Leicester tomorrow. Former Bradford Bulls rugby league winger Nick Zisti makes way for Fabio Roselli, whose centre partner is Alessandro Ceppolino.
In the back row, Carlo Caione comes in for Orazio Arancio and Stefano Saviozzi takes over at open-side flanker from Mauro Bergamasco.
Carlo Checchinato moves from the bench to lock, swapping places with Walter Cristofoletto and there are new props in Andrea Castellani and Alessandro Moreno.
Tonga bring in full back Sateki Tuipulotu for Siua Taumalolo, who was handed a three-week suspension earlier this week. Coach Dave Waterston is also forced through injury to make changes to his front-row, bringing in Ngalu Tau at tight-head prop and Latiume Maka at hooker.
Wales aim to break up bachop link
Rob Howley believes it is vital Wales keep Graeme Bachop quiet if they are to record their 10th straight Test triumph today.
Welsh captain Howley feels Bachop is the man who makes Japan tick and they must stop the former New Zealand Test star playing to ensure they clinch a second World Cup win.
Neil Jenkins could become the highest points scorer in the history of international rugby union today. He needs 20 to pass the current record of 911 held by former Australia out-half Michael Lynagh.
Bordeaux, France, Oct 8 (AFP) - Fijian coach Brad Johnstone said yesterday that both his out-halves, Nicky Little and sevens legend Waisale Serevi, would play in today's crucial Group C match with Canada - but he wouldn't say which of them would start the game.
Johnstone added that the flu bug that had interrupted their preparations for the Canadian encounter had caused five players to miss training at some point during the week.
For the dashing Fijians a win would put them on course for a Pool winning decider with France next Saturday in Toulouse while defeat for the physical and solid Canadians would end their hopes of grabbing an automatic quarterfinal play-off spot.
Samoa have brought in two new players and made two positional switches in their team to play Argentina in a World Cup pool D game at Llanelli tomorrow. George Leaupepe starts in place of To'o Vaega at inside centre and Opeta Palepoi comes in at lock. Sene Ta'la shifts from the second row to blindside flanker with Junior Paramore moving to the openside.
Canada: S Stewart; W Stanley, K Nichols, S Bryan, D Lougheed; G Rees, M Williams; R Snow, P Dunkley, J Thiel, J Tait, M James, A Charron (capt), D Baugh, M Schmid. Replace- ments - J Pagano, B Roos, J Graf, R Banks, R Bice, M Cardinal.
Tonga: S Tuipulotu; T Taufahema, S Taupeaafe, E Vunipola (capt), E Taione; B Woolley, S Martens; T Faingaanuku, L Maka, N Tau, F Mafi, B Kivalu, D Edwards, S Koloi, K Tuipulotu. Replacements - S Tuipulotu, T Tiueti, I Tapueluelu, M Te Pou, I Fatani, T Penisini, P Faletau.
Italy: M Pini; P Vaccari, C Stoica, A Ceppolino, F Roselli; D Dominguez, A Troncon; A Moreno, A Moscardi, A Castellani, C Checchinato, M Giacheri, M Giovanelli (capt), C Caione, S Saviozzi. Replacements: N Mazzucato, F Mazzariol, G Mazzi, O Arancio, W Cristofolettoi, F Properzi-Curti, A Moretti.
Japan: T Hirao; D Ohata, A McCormick (capt), Y Motoki, P Tuidrake; K Hirose, G Bachop; S Hasegawa, M Kunda, N Nakamura, R Gordon, H Tanuma, N Okubo, G Smith, J Joseph. Replacements - T Masuho, A Yoshida, W Murata, T Ito, Y Sakuraba, T Nakamichi, M Sakata
Samoa: S Leaega; A So'oalo, G Leaupepe, V Tuigamala, B Lima; S Bachop, S So'oialo; B Reidy, T Leota, R Ale, O Palepoi, L Tome, S Ta'la, J Paramore, P Lam (capt). Replace- ments - T Vaega, T Vili, J Clarke, K Toleafoa, I Feaunati, M Mika, O Matauiau.
Fiji team yet to be named.
