Weekend previews:Ric Suggitt has attempted to eschew finesse in favour of brawn. The Canadian coach has selected the biggest side available to him in the hope that he can overturn the formbook when his charges face Wales in Nantes tomorrow.
Canada have lost 11 of 12 encounters with the Principality so Suggitt has turned to the basics in an effort to find a solution. "We have to try to do things to frustrate them and make them play uncharacteristic rugby," he says.
Wales will plump for the opposite end of the spectrum in pursuit of their anticipated victory. They'll look to put width and pace on the game so as to provide a platform for Mark Jones and Shane Williams to showcase their speed and agility.
This pursuit of an open contest will be facilitated by the selection of James Hook in the pivotal number 10 jersey.
Coach Gareth Jenkins has opted for the young Osprey over a fit-again Stephen Jones, who is on the bench.
The Welsh should enjoy plenty of possession based on a strong and athletic pack and certainly have the quality to capitalise on it.
The Canucks are known for their abrasive, no-nonsense style, but even allowing for the presence of quality players like the veteran prop Rod Snow and the Stade Français secondrow Mike James, anything other than a comfortable Welsh victory would be a surprise.
They'll need it because today Australia are likely to rack up some serious points differential in their favour when they square up to Japan. Coach John Connolly has opted for veteran halfback combination Stephen Larkham and George Gregan with Matt Giteau in the centre.
His midfield partner, Stirling Mortlock, is a huge figure whose influence extends far beyond the captaincy.
Connolly is content Chris Latham is fully rehabilitated from injury and the fullback is part of a back line with pace as well as physique - the left wing Lote Tuqiri possessing both qualities to an exceptional degree.
The main question concerning the Wallabies, twice world champions (1991 and 1999), is how well their forward pack will go.
Today's mismatch won't progress that argument one iota.
Australia will view this game as an opportunity to rack up plenty of points and the one hope of the neutral is that it doesn't reach triple figures.
Both these Pool B clashes will be refereed by Irishmen; Alan Lewis takes Australia and Japan, and Alain Rolland presides over the Wales clash with Canada.
Meanwhile there is a ghoulish fascination in seeing how Portugal cope in their World Cup debut with Scotland. While it might not be carnage on the scale New Zealand will inflict, it could be pretty grim against the Scots.
Mind you, for head coach Thomas Morais this match has been put in perspective; his baby daughter is seriously ill. A match, albeit a World Cup bow, seems trivial in comparison.
Morais said, "We have nothing to lose at all. We are going to play attack and we are going to play Portuguese rugby."
The neutrals will wish him well in every respect.
WALES: K Morgan; M Jones, T Shanklin, S Parker, S Williams; J Hook, D Peel (capt); G Jenkins, M Rees, A Jones; I Gough, A-Wyn Jones; J Thomas, M Williams, A Popham. Replacements: T Rhys Thomas, D Jones, M Owen, C Charvis, M Phillips, S Jones, G Thomas.
CANADA: M Pyke; D van der Merwe, C Culpan, D Spicer, J Pritchard; A Monro, M Williams (capt); R Snow, P Riordan, J Thiel; L Tait, M James; J Cudmore, D Biddle, S-M Stephen. Replacements: A Carpenter, D Pletch, M Pletch, M Burak, C Yukes, E Fairhurst, R Smith.
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).
AUSTRALIA: C Latham, A Ashley-Cooper, S Mortlock (capt), M Giteau, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan; M Dunning, S Moore, A Baxter; N Sharpe, D Vickerman; R Elsom, G Smith, W Palu. Replacements: A Frier, G Shepherdson, H McMeniman, S Hoiles, B Barnes, D Mitchell, M Gerard.
JAPAN: T Kusumi; T Kitagawa, K Taira, N Oto, K Ono; Y Yatomi, M Yamamoto; T Inokuchi, R Yamamura, T Kumagae; L Samurai Vatuvei; Y Watanabe, T Sasaki (capt), H Kiso. Replacements: Y Matsubara, T Soma, H Ono, H Makiri, T Yoshida, B Robins, K Endo.
Referee: A Lewis (Ireland).
SCOTLAND: R Lamont; S Lamont, M Di Rollo, R Dewey, S Webster; D Parks, M Blair; A Jacobsen, S Lawson, E Murray; N Hines, S Murray; J White (capt), A Hogg, S Taylor. Replacements: R Ford, G Kerr, S MacLeod, K Brown, R Lawson, C Paterson, H Southwell.
PORTUGAL: P Leal; David Mateus, F Sousa, Diogo Mateus, P Carvalho; D Cardoso Pinto, J Pinto; R Cordeiro, J Ferreira, R Spachuck; G Uva, D Penalva; J Severino Somoza, J Uva, V Uva (capt). Replacements: J Manuel Muré, J Correia, P Murinello, D Coutinho, L Pissarra, P Cabral, M Portela.
Referee: S Walsh (New Zealand).
