Wales, briefly ranked World Rugby's No 1 team in the lead-up to the tournament in Japan, kick off their Pool D campaign against Georgia at the Toyota Stadium on Monday. In May 2009 he joined French club … And they will field their oldest line-up in the competition – with an average age of 28 years and 331 days. ‘All of them will be put on training programmes by national fitness coach Andrew Hoare and monitored by their regions. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho, And pre-tournament recreation... David Humpreys, Frankie Sheehan and Mark Tainton swim with the fishes. ‘We’ve got a series of friendlies and then pre-season games for all of the provinces in September which we will be watching closely,’ he said. Shane Horgan is stopped in his tracks. "Rugby is very emotive and you have to encourage that emotion, but we have to control that and use it in the right way. We are fully focused on Monday night against a formidable opponent, and one that we have a lot of respect for. I don't think that does you any harm.". Photograph: Inpho/Morgan Treacy, This time Ireland -- and Paul O'Connell -- were at the wrong end of a single-point game, losing 17-16 to the Aussies. ‘But this does not exclude anyone else as I’m sure people will drop in and drop out of the group according to performances or if they are not meeting their fitness requirements.’. Choose from an extensive range of photographs taken by Irish Times photographers, The Irish Times front pages, available from the first publication in 1859, make the perfect gift for birthdays, christenings or anniversaries. Records include the following current or recent matches: Australia v England at Sydney, Rugby World Cup Final, Nov 22, 2003 []France v New Zealand at Sydney, Rugby World Cup 3rd/4th place playoff, Nov 20, 2003 []England v France at Sydney, Rugby World Cup Semi final, Nov 16, 2003 [] Records include the following current or recent matches: Australia v England at Sydney, Rugby World Cup Final, Nov 22, 2003 []France v New Zealand at Sydney, Rugby World Cup 3rd/4th place playoff, Nov 20, 2003 []England v France at Sydney, Rugby World Cup Semi final, Nov 16, 2003 [] Photograph: Inpho/Morgan Treacy, Victor Costello on the charge. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter featuring the latest news, highlights and fixtures, Sign up today to be in with a chance to win over £300* worth of WRU kit. Pontypridd lock Cockbain, brother of Queensland and Wallaby star Matt, has qualified for Wales on residency grounds after three years in his adopted country and the 6ft 8in giant is among 25 additions to the tour party for the provisional World Cup squad. ... Ronan O'Gara meets a snake as the Irish team acclimatise. Wales: G. Thomas, M. Jones, Taylor, Harris, S. Williams, S. Jones, Cooper, I. Thomas, McBryde, A. Jones, Cockbain, Sidoli, D. Jones, Charvis, J. Thomas. Worsley, a member of England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad, won 78 international caps and was a Wasps stalwart in Gatland's 2002-5 reign during which the club won three English Premiership titles and the European Cup. Photograph: Billy Stickland, Ronan O'Gara meets a snake as the Irish team acclimatise. I saw what he did at Wasps, I experienced it, and I've seen from afar what he's done with the Welsh team," said the former flanker, who has spent the last seven years coaching at Bordeaux-Begles in the French Top 14. Despite that untimely distraction, both Parkes and Edwards stressed that Wales cannot afford to take their attention off the threat posed by Georgia. Rugby World Cup: England fined for V-shaped Haka challenge before semi-final win Martin Johnson: The captain of the victorious 2003 side went on to … I don't think that does you any harm.". "They will have them fired up," said Edwards. "There was a bit of news this week, but it is all about Georgia, getting our tournament off to a good start against what is a good, physical Georgia side, and getting on the front foot,” Parkes insisted.