The day has come for 20 rugby nations to finally put years of preparation into action as the 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off tonight at 8.30pm.
For hosts New Zealand who were the inaugural champion in the first RWC in 1987, they are eyeing the home soil advantage to win their second title after 24 years of waiting.
Coach, Graham Henry and captain, Richie McCaw will lead the All Blacks tonight at Eden Park in Auckland with high hopes they will also be one of two sides to be in the final on the 23rd of next month.
The Ikale Tahi boys from the Friendly Island of Tonga are first up on the All Blacks menu, bringing with them their known ingredients of physical rugby approach.
Henry is coming into this opening pool game with two consecutive losses in a row and has made some changes in his starting 15 with the likes of Israel Dagg, Richard Kahui, Isaia Toeava and Sonny Bill Williams being given chance to prove their worth.
The master tactician knows the importance of this Webb Ellis Cup to NZ and after the failed campaign in France four years ago he want to put that ghost to rest in front of his loyal supporters.
However Tongan captain, Finau Maka said his boys are feeling calm ahead of the storm.
Also trying to write a new chapter in the history of the RWC will be the defending champion, Springboks.
The Peter De Villers coached side have been faced with a lot of criticism especially with the inclusion of 18 players from the side that won 4 years ago and who have not shown in their past games what it takes to become the first team to win the RWC title back-to-back.
De Villers said his side is not in NZ just to make up the numbers.
One of the favourites are the Tri Nation champions Australia with coach, Robbie Deans aware of the difficult task at hand in his home country but his heart is on his adopted nation.
For the Flying Fijians who are grouped into a "Pool of Death" with South Africa, Wales, Namibia and Samoa - Captain, Deacon Manu wants his boys to be in the top 8.
Manu said the focus is in his boys to lay their body on the line for Fiji.
The 2011 RWC Official opening ceremony is at 7.3opm at Eden Park.
The opening game between the All Blacks and Tonga kicks off 8.30pm and you can catch the live commentary on our sister station Viti FM with the new voice of rugby, Malakai Veisamasama and 2007 World Cup coach, Ilivasi Tabua.
Tomorrow at 3.30pm, Fiji will be up against Namibia and you will also hear the live commentary of this match on our sister station Viti FM.
Story by: Dreu Vukailagi
Feature
2011 RWC set to kickoff tonight
