EASTBOURNE — A wary South Africa is unsure of what lies in wait for it when it takes on Japan but is conscious of the need for a bright start in its opening Rugby World Cup game in Brighton Saturday. It is a first meeting between the two countries and for the twice winner a trip into the unknown, leaving it without any of the expected swagger ahead of the Pool B match at the Brighton Community Stadium. While the outcome is not in doubt — Japan has a single victory in 24 matches in seven World Cups — the Springboks have spent the last days warning everyone their respect for Japan and what they expect will be a different approach. The Boks will hoping to start momentum rolling as they begin what they hope will be a seven-game odyssey to the final next month. Japan has prepared extensively for this World Cup, driven by the expertise of former Australia coach Eddie Jones, with an expansive list of warm-up internationals. France vs. Italy France could regain its flair and put Italy to the sword in its Pool D opener at Twickenham if coach Philippe Saint-Andre's efforts to relieve the pressure work. Saint-Andre, whose side is looking to reach a second successive final and fourth overall, said the players needed to be relaxed but concentrated. Lock Pascal Pape and flanker Thierry Dusautoir feel the same, being the only men in Saturday's team to have played in the 8-7 loss to New Zealand in the 2011 final. Prop Nicolas Mas and scrumhalf Morgan Parra, who also started that final, will be on the bench. A major setback for the Italians is the loss of talismanic captain Sergio Parisse for this match at least with hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini leading the side. Ireland vs. Canada Ireland is firmly focused on its opening Pool D match against Canada in Cardiff Saturday after a sluggish build-up which cast doubt on their title credentials. The Six Nations champion lost at home to Wales and was beaten by England at Twickenham but it believes it is in good shape to win the World Cup for the first time. Coach Joe Schmidt has built a formidable Ireland team, based on an intimidating forward pack and experienced halfbacks Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton. Canada coach Kieran Crowley is well aware of the size of the task facing his country, who have appeared in every World Cup but got through the pool stage only once, in 1991. Georgia vs. Tonga Georgia and Tonga both have the prestige of a game against Rugby World Cup holder New Zealand to come but the opening match between two of the Pool C outsiders at Gloucester Saturday is the most vital of the tournament for both of them. The All Blacks and Argentina are widely expected to finish first and second in the pool, leaving Tonga, Georgia and Namibia vying for third and the all-important automatic qualification for the next World Cup in 2019 in Japan. Georgia finished fourth in their pool at the last two World Cups and had to go through the rigors of qualification while Tonga, which has competed in all but one of the previous tournaments, beat France four years ago to finish third in its pool and avoid the preliminaries. It would make Tonga the favorite Saturday. “Georgia are a physical team who have improved a lot over the last couple of years, so we expect it to be a physical game,” Tonga hooker Aleki Lutui said. — Agencies
