Reuters Sports Schedule at 0500 GMT on Thursday, Oct 1

Reuters sports schedule at 0500 GMT on Thursday: - - - - RUGBY WORLD CUP (to Oct. 31) MATCHES Wales v Fiji Buoyant Welsh seek to build on momentum CARDIFF - Wales return to the Millennium Stadium to face Fiji in Pool A looking to build on their epic victory over England at Twickenham and close on the quarter-finals. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/WALES-FIJI expect by 1745 GMT/1:45PM ET, by Ed Osmond, Nick Mulvenney and Martyn Herman, 400 words) We will also file quotes sidebars on merit. - - France v Canada France call on flair for plucky Canucks MILTON KEYNES - Unbeaten France change tack for an expansive, free-flowing game against a lively Canadian side that came so close to upsetting Italy. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/FRANCE-CANADA, expect by 2200 GMT/6:00PM ET, by Justin Palmer, 400 words) - - TEAM NEWS England name team to face Australia Jonathan Joseph is expected to return to the starting side as England look to score tries against Australia on Saturday. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/ENGLAND-TEAM,(PIX, TV) expect by 1200 GMT/8 AM ET, by Mitch Phillips, 400 words). Australia name side for England clash Australia are expected to be at full strength when they unveil their team to face England at Twickenham. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/AUSTRALIA-TEAM, (PIX), expect by 0900 GMT/5AM ET, by Nick Mulvenney, 400 words) Scotland name team to face Springboks Scotland will name the team to face the Springboks on Saturday with an injury concern still hanging over their main playmaker Finn Russell. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/SCOTLAND-TEAM,(PIX, TV) expect by 1200 GMT/8 AM ET, by John Geddie, 400 words plus sidebars. - - PREVIEWS England v Australia LONDON - The second big showdown from Pool A sees England desperately needing to beat Australia keep their quarter-final hopes alive. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA (PREVIEW), expect by 1900 GMT/3 PM, by Mitch Phillips, 400 words. Samoa v Japan LONDON - After beating South Africa but then losing to Scotland, Japan need to overcome the physical challenge of Samoa to retain their dream of a first appearance in the quarter-finals. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/SAMOA-JAPAN (PREVIEW), expect by 1300 GMT/9 AM, by Justin Palmer, 400 words. South Africa v Scotland Springboks in fight for World Cup survival against Scotland LONDON - Twice world champions South Africa, damaged by their shock defeat by Japan, must beat a resurgent Scotland in their crunch game on Saturday to lower the odds on an ignominious early Rugby World Cup exit. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/SAFRICA-SCOTLAND (PREVIEW), expect by 15:45 GMT/11:45 AM ET, by Angus MacSwan, 400 words) - - We will also monitor news from across the tournament and file stories throughout. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/, expect throughout) - - - - BASEBALL Cardinals clinch third straight NL Central crown The St. Louis Cardinals waited until after their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates ended before celebrating their third successive National League Central title, though they could have started after the third inning. (BASEBALL-PIRATES, moved, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Jays clinch AL East The Baltimore Orioles easily won the second game of their doubleheader with Toronto, but the Blue Jays had already clinched the American League East title with victory in the first. (BASEBALL-ORIOLES/, moved, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Stroman guides Toronto to AL East title Marcus Stroman allowed one run in eight strong innings as the Toronto Blue Jays clinched their first American League East title in 22 years with a 15-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a double header. (BASEBALL-HIGHLIGHTS/, moved with updates to follow, 800 words) - - - - SOCCER Previews Premier League Wenger, Rodgers under scrutiny ahead of clashes with rivals LONDON - Arsene Wenger may be under pressure after their Champions League traumas but his fourth-placed side can go level on points with leaders Manchester United by beating them on Sunday while under-fire Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers takes his struggling side to rivals Everton. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Steve Tongue, 400 words) LONDON - We will have all the latest team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League matches. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/, expect throughout) - - La Liga Barca play at Sevilla, Atletico host Real for Madrid derby MADRID - A pair of crunch games dominate matchday seven, with Spanish and European champions Barcelona at Europa League holders Sevilla on Saturday and Real Madrid visiting city neighbours Atletico on Sunday, when surprise leaders Villarreal are at Levante. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PREVIEW), expect by 1000 GMT/6 AM ET, by Iain Rogers, 400 words) - - - - AUSTRALIAN RULES Aboriginal players to highlight AFL title-decider MELBOURNE - The Adam Goodes boo-ing saga blighted the Australian Football League season and sparked a heated debate about race but indigenous players are set to play leading roles in the competition's title-deciding Grand Final (AUSTRALIAN RULES/INDIGENOUS, expect by 1000 GMT/6 AM ET, by Ian Ransom, 600 words) - - - - CRICKET Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 1st ODI, Harare Zimbabwe meet Pakistan again HARARE - After Zimbabwe became the first international cricket team to play in Pakistan following the 2009 Lahore attack, the Asian nation begin a reciprocal series in the first of three one-day internationals at the Harare Sports Club. (CRICKET-ZIMBABWE/, expect by 1500 GMT/11 AM ET, 300 words) - - - - GOLF Asia set for massive Presidents Cup boost, predicts Lahiri India's Anirban Lahiri has already enjoyed a career-best year at golf's highest level and is now itching to make his debut at the Presidents Cup next week when Asia will stage the biennial competition for the first time. (GOLF-PRESIDENTS/LAHIRI (INTERVIEW), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 600 words) - - - - TENNIS ATP: Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur (to Oct 4) Shenzhen Open, Shenzhen, China (to Oct 4) WTA: Wuhan Open, Wuhan, China (to Oct 4) Tashkent Open, Tashkent, Uzbekistan (to Oct 4) Copy on merit - - - - (Asia Desk Editor: Greg Stutchbury)