ARGENTINA Following the loss of skipper Lisandro Arbizu to a knee injury last week, Agustin Pichot has been named as the new Pumas captain for the World Cup.

AUSTRALIA The Wallabies have returned from their toughest-ever physical preparation in Australia's outback. Eddie Jones took the world champions north in order to get them used to the warmer conditions they will play in during the Australian spring. Meanwhile prop Ben Darwin is still recovering from knee surgery and is not guaranteed of being ready for Australia's opening clash against Argentina.

CANADA Captain Al Charron will take his place in the Canadian World Cup squad after emerging from an injury cloud. Fellow backrower Ryan Banks has also been declared fit, meaning Lief Carlson drops out of the original 31-man squad.

ENGLAND Britian's Rugby World Cup broadcaster ITV has committed to televising all 48 tournament matches live. Taking advantage of the favourable viewing times and excitement surrounding England's world beating team, ITV's coverage sets a new benchmark for rugby broadcasting.

FIJI Fiji are undertaking a crash course in the game's laws fearing a traditional clamping down by referees at the World Cup. "I don't believe this team has a discipline problem," said team manager Joe Browne. "We welcome changes in the laws and are in the process of getting the boys ready for it."

FRANCE France had a solid final preparation match for the World Cup when on the weekend they played under the guise of the 'President's XV', defeating the French Barbarians 83-12 in Narbonne. Despite featuring some of France's World Cup players, the strength of the Barbarians side was reduced greatly with Stade Francais, Toulouse, Perpignan and Montferrand all refusing to let their stars who did not make the French team risk injury in the clash. Meanwhile fullback Xavier Garbajosa will undergo a scan to reveal the extent of injury to his torn thigh muscle. David Bory and Vincent Clerc are on standby for the 1999 RWC finalist.

GEORGIA Initially named as a 31-man squad, Georgia has finalised its team for the World Cup with centre Otar Eloshvili coming into the 30, while fly-half David Kiknadze and second rower Sergo Gujaraidze drop out.

IRELAND Ireland have lost another centre for the World Cup with Jonathan Bell's Achilles problem forcing him to join Geordan Murphy and Rob Henderson on the sidelines. A replacement has not yet been named. Meanwhile coach Eddie O'Sullivan has signed a new contract which will see him at the helm until after the 2008 Six Nations.

ITALY Italy have dumped former All Black flanker Leicester Rutledge as forwards coach on the eve of the World Cup, after lacklustre performances up front in the Azzurri's last three outings. Meanwhile wing Denis Dallan continues to fight an ankle injury which ruled him out of a training game over the weekend.

JAPAN Some Japanese players have begun the final stages of their World Cup preparation by playing in the opening rounds of Japan's new league set to raise the standard of competition at both club and national level. The system involves 12 teams, with eight sides playing finals while there is also a compulsory promotion and relegation system.

NAMIBIA Hooker Hugo Horn, prop Jane du Toit, lock Johannes Theron and fullback Lean van Dyk have pulled out of Namibia's World Cup squad to play club rugby instead. They have been replaced by Shaun van Rooi, Andries Blaauw, Phillipus Isaacs and Vincent Dreyer. Having already dumped his assistant coach earlier this month, Welwitschias coach Dave Waterston has described Namibia's World Cup preparation as chaotic. Namibia has had to cancel a six-week training camp in South Africa, employers won't give players time off while some players have been injured in club matches.

NEW ZEALAND Lock Ali Williams has been cleared of a stress fracture in his foot but is still in some doubt for the World Cup with the extent of his injury unknown. He will join the All Blacks squad in Nelson today for one of a series of training camps around the country.

ROMANIA With the international retirement of star scrum half Petre Mitu this year, Metro Racing Paris No.9 Lucian Sirbu is preparing himself to be the linchpin of the Oaks' World Cup side. With many commentators believing Sirbu is a better prospect than Mitu was, the new half is using the final weeks of build-up to cement his importance in the team.

SAMOA Samoa will be without hard-hitting hooker Trevor Leota who has withdrawn from the World Cup after his London club Wasps refused to pay him while on international duty. This week Samoa will assemble in Auckland before heading back to Apia, then again to Auckland and onto Perth for their first World Cup match against Uruguay on 15 October.

SCOTLAND Fly half Gregor Townsend has undergone keyhole surgery on his injured knee, but has come through with the prognosis of being fully fit for the beginning of the World Cup. Forwards Tom Smith, Scott Murray and Bruce Douglas are also not at full strength but are expected to be fit for the tournament.

SOUTH AFRICA The Springboks scrappy 45-24 win over Cheetahs in a World Cup warm-up last week came at a huge cost with Gcobani Bobo ruled out of the tournament with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He has been replaced by Western Province centre Jean de Villiers who will play for the Springboks in their final warm up match against the Falcons today.

TONGA Tonga have joined the list of sides moving to figure hugging jerseys with the addition of white piping and a smaller collar changing the strip slightly. The Ikale Tahi will prepare for the Cup in New Zealand for two weeks before returning to Tonga and then moving on to Australia. Meanwhile North Otago winger Pila Fifita has been called into the RWC squad following Aisea Havili's decision to stay with the Celtic Warriors during the tournament.

URUGUAY Former international Diego Ormaechea is going through the final stages of turning his side's form around on the eve of the World Cup. Uruguay are training hard to end a four-Test losing streak with their last victory coming against Paraguay in April.

USA With the exception of injured flanker Conrad Hodgson, USA coach Tom Billups says his 30 man squad for the World Cup could not be any stronger. While there have been some injury forced omissions, the former international believes that his side which has lost to only Argentina and England this year, is the best the Eagles have produced.

WALES Wales are preparing for the World Cup with a gruelling camp in the Canary Islands. The side is spending up to six hours a day training in warm and humid conditions in Lanzarote as they prepare to head to Australia in early October.

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