South Africa will hope to get their World Cup off to an impressive start when they open their account against the tough-tackling Samoans in Paris on Sunday. Click on the link under the photograph for LIVE text commentary on all the action, beginning with Wales against Canada!

Jake White's side can only have been boosted by England's shambolic win over the USA on Saturday night and will be determined to put down a marker ahead of their vital pool clash on Friday.

The South Africa-England game was expected to be the group decider but after England's struggles against the USA, the Springboks may now see the Samoans as a tougher proposition.

They certainly will not take the Pacific Islanders lightly, and Michael Jones' side can also take heart from the USA's battling performance against England.

Wales take on Canada in the day's second game, a potential banana skin for coach Gareth Jenkins' out-of-sorts team.

Canada have always offered genuine resistance up front but Wales are likely to be too fast and skilful in the backs for the part-time Canuks.

Jenkins' side are in need of a confidence boost after a less-than-impressive build-up but the Canadians, who have a proud history in the World Cup, will not fall short for trying.

Also opening their account on Sunday are Ireland, who are likely to prove far too strong for their Pool D opponents Namibia.

The Irish have their captain and talisman Brian O'Driscoll fit again and will expect to race part their African opponents.

France's loss to Argentina on Friday evening has thrown Pool D wide open and the Irish can move to the top of the standings with a convincing win in Bordeaux.

The last game of the day sees Scotland take on minnows and European qualifiers Portugal in Group C.

The Scots have beefed up considerably over the summer and while Portugal have some skilful runners thanks to their efforts in seven-a-side rugby, they are unlikely to trouble Frank Hadden's side too much.

Scotland will have been impressed by New Zealand's 76-14 demolition of Italy on Saturday and, in contrast to the Azzurri, will look for a good start to their campaign.

The Scotland-Italy game on September 29 is likely to decide which side goes through to the quarter-finals as the group runners up to New Zealand.

TEAMS

Pool B: Wales v Canada

Wales: 15-Kevin Morgan, 14-Mark Jones, 13-Tom Shanklin, 12-Sonny Parker, 11-Shane Williams, 10-James Hook, 9-Dwayne Peel, 1-Gethin Jenkins, 2-Matthew Rees, 3-Adam Jones, 4-Ian Gough, 5-Alun-Wyn Jones, 6-Jonathan Thomas, 7-Martyn Williams, 8-Alix Popham

Replacements: 16-T Rhys Thomas, 17-Duncan Jones, 18-Michael Owen, 19-Colin Charvis, 20-Michael Phillips, 21-Stephen Jones, 22-Gareth Thomas.

Canada: 15- Aaron Carpenter; 14- Dth van der Merwe, 13- Craig Culpan, 12- Dave Spicer, 11- James Pritchard; 10- Ander Monro, 9- Morgan Williams (capt); 1- Rod Snow, 2-Pat Riordan, 3- Jon Thiel, 4- Luke Tait, 5- Mike James, 6- Jamie Cudmore, 7- Dave Biddle, 8- Sean-Michael Stephen

Replacements: 16- Aaron Carpenter, 17- Dan Pletch, 18- Mike Pletch, 19- Mike Burak, 20- Colin Yukes, 21- Ed Fairhurst, 22- Ryan Smith

Pool A: South Africa v Samoa

South Africa: 15-Percy Montgomery; 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12- Jean de Villiers, 11- Bryan Habana; 10- Butch James, 9- Fourie du Preez, 1- Os du Randt, 2- John Smit (capt), 3- CJ van der Linde, 4-Bakkies Botha, 5- Victor Matfield, 6- Schalk Burger, 7- Juan Smith, 8- Danie Rossouw.

Replacements: 16- Bismarck du Plessis, 17- Brendon Botha, 18- Johannes Muller, 19- Wickus van Heerden, 20- Enrico Januarie, 21- Andre Pretorius, 22- Francois Steyn

Samoa: 15-David Lemi; 14-Lome Fa'atu, 13-Gavin Williams, 12-Jerry Meafou, 11-Alesana Tuilagi; 10- Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 9-Junio Polu; 1-Justin Va'a, 2- Mahonri Schwalger, 3-Cencus Jonson, 4-Joe Tekori, 5-Kane Thompson, 6-Daniel Leo, 7-Semo Sititi (capt), 8-Henry Tuilagi.

Replacements: 16-Tanielu Fuga, 17-Kas Lealamanua,18-Alfie Vaeluaga,19-Justin Purdie, 20-Elvis Seveali'I, 21-Loki Crichton, 22-Brian Lima.

Pool C: Scotland v Portugal

Scotland: 15-Rory Lamont; 14-Sean Lamont, 13-Marcus Di Rollo, 12-Rob Dewey, 11-Simon Webster; 10-Dan Parks, 9-Mike Blair; 1-Allan Jacobsen, 2-Scott Lawson, 3-Euan Murray, 4-Nathan Hines, 5-Scott Murray, 6-Jason White, 7-Allister Hogg, 8-Simon Taylor.

Replacements: 16-Ross Ford, 17-Gavin Kerr, 18-Scott MacLeod, 19-Kelly Brown, 20-Rory Lawson, 21-Chris Paterson, 22-Hugo Southwell.

Portugal: 15- Pedro Leal; 14- David Mateus, 13- Federico Sousa, 12- Diego Mateus, 11-Pedro Carvalho; 10- Duarte Cardoso Pinto, 9- José Pinto, 1- Rui Cordeiro, 2- Joaquim Ferreira, 3- Ruben Spachuck, 4- Gonçalo Uva, 5- David Penalva, 6- Juan Severino Somoza, 7- João Uva, 8-Vasco Uva (capt).

Replacements: 16-Juan Manuel Muré, 17- João Correia, 18-Paulo Murinello, 19- Diogo Coutinho, 20- Luis Pissarra, 21- Pedro Cabral, 22- Miguel Portela

Pool D - Ireland v Namibia

Ireland: 15-Girvan Dempsey, 14-Andrew Trimble, 13-Brian O'Driscoll (capt), 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Denis Hickie, 10-Ronan O'Gara, 9-Peter Stringer, 1-Marcus Horan, 2-Rory Best, 3-John Hayes, 4-Donncha O'Callaghan, 5-Paul O'Connell, 6-Simon Easterby, 7-David Wallace, 8-Denis Leamy.

Replacements: 16-Jerry Flannery, 17-Simon Best, 18-Malcolm O'Kelly, 19-Neil Best, 20-Isaac Boss, 21-Paddy Wallace, 22-Geordan Murphy.

Namibia: 15-Tertius Losper; 14-Ryan Witbooi, 13-Bratley Langenhoven, 12-Piet van Zyl, 11-Heini Bock; 10-Emile Wessels, 9-Eugene Jantjies; 8-Jacques Burger, 7-Heino Senekal, 6-Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 5-Nico Esterhuize, 4-Wacca Kazombiaze, 3-Jane du Toit, 2-Hugo Horn, 1-Kees Lensing (capt).

Replacements: 16-Johannes Meyer, 17-Johnny Redelinghuys, 18-Michael MacKenzie, 19-Tinus du Plessis, 20-Jurie van Tonder, 21-Lu-Wayne Botes, 22-Melrick Africa.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport