P395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:34/11 1/9 ARGENTINA Pool Three Argentina are hoping their young side will conj of age during the tournament after learning some harsh lessons during the past 12 months. Only four men remain from the squad which played in 1987 and they have yet to fill the immjnsj gap left by the retirement of fly-half Hugo Porta. Coach Luis Gradin is realistic about their chances but insists: "This is a new team with potential to improve." But their cause has not been helped by the loss of scrum-half and goal-kicker Herman Vidou after surgery on his neck. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/IreP395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:36/25 2/9 CANADA Pool Four Canada can approach the tournament with some confidence after the best run of results in their history. The last few months have seen them hand out hidings to Japan and the US and then exceed all expectations by beating Scotland 24-19. Over half of their squad from 1987, when they beat Tonga before losing to Ireland and Wales, return for a second taste of World Cup action. They are led bz full-back Mark Wyatt and could spring a surprise by reaching the quarter-finals behind France. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/IreP395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:54/18 3/9 FIJI Pool Four Pacific Islanders Fiji must overcome deficiencies at set-pieces if they are to repeat their quarter-final placing of four years ago. Their love of throwing the ball around makes them masters of sjvjns rugby but coach George Simpkin admits they lack technique among the forwards. "Talent alone doisn't push scrums. Natural skills don't drive mauls and win rucks," the Kiwi explained. But their B team beat England during the summer and their free-running style should test France, Romania and Canada. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/IreP395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:44/14 4/9 ITALY Pool One Italy upset Fiji four years ago and realistically one win is all they can expect this time as well. Victory over England or New Zealand would be nothing short of a sensation but the "Squadra Azzurri" will not lack flair in their bid to upset the odds. Half-backs Ivan Francescato and Massing Bonomi provide a talented midfield axis for their French coach Bertrand Foucarde to build a team around. There is plenty of speed among their three-quarters but beating the US at Otley may be the team's main ambition. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/IreP395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:45/21 5/9 JAPAN Pool Two Japan are relying on extra beef paying dividends as they seek to break their duck after three defeats in 1987. The search for added power led to their forwards being put on a special steak diet and they now average over three lbs a man heavier. They are backed up by some pacy backs including skipper Seiji Hirao and they have a consistent goal-kicker in full- back Tatsuhir Hosokawa. Scotland will certainly not be guilty of underestimating them - having lost 28-24 in Tokyo two years ago. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/IreP395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:44/21 6/9 ROMANIA Pool Four Romania embody rugby unpredictability with a string of topsy-turvy displays making their prospects hard to assess. Five key players were killed during the 1989 revolution but out of adversity they conjured up a magnificent 15-9 win in France the following year. This was followed by an inexplicable 29-21 defeat bz Italy, which led to the replacement of coach Thjodor Raduleucu with Petre Ivanisjvci. He revived team spirit with the help of skipper Hare Dumitras and they bounced back with a shock win over Scotland. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/IreP395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:41/25 7/9 UNITED STATES Pool One The American Eagles flew into Britain knowing there will be no easy meat for them to prey on in their group games. Coach Jim Perkins has a super-fit team but concedes that the matches against England and New Zealand are likely to bj exercises in damage limitation. "A year ago we were really given a lesson by Australia. Since then we have been trying to put into practice their total commitment through all 80 minutes of a game," said skipper Brian Vizard. The game with Italy will bj their Cup final and they bjliivj they can win it. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/IreP395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:49/44 8/9 WESTERN SAMOA Pool Three Western Samoa feel they have a point to prove after being left out of the 1987 competition and have the min to make a significant impact. There is a big New Zealand presence in their camp with John Schusses and All Blacks legend Bryan Williams as coaches and Peter Fatialofa as captain. They had a 100% record in qualifying and since then have persuaded a host of other Kiwis, including Steve Bachop and Frank Bunce, to join them. Wales will take them lightly at their peril when they meet on October 6. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/IreP395 CEEFAX 395 Tue 1 Oct 20:43/27 9/9 ZIMBABWE Pool Two Zimbabwe have a long way to go before they can dream of repeating their 1949 feat, when still known as Rhodesia, of beating the All Blacks 10-8. Numerous players have decamped to South Africa in the years since independence but they have been working hard to nurture young talent. Hard-running centre Richard Tsimba is a survivor from 1987 when they lost all three games, two of them heavily. They should have little chance against Scotland and Ireland but will be hoping for victory against the Japanese. Next Page Ass/NZ Eng/Scot Wal/Ire