Rugby World Cup kicks off

LONDON, England (CNN) -- The world is turning oval as the Rugby World Cup comes to France for six weeks. Apart from a few excursions to Wales and Scotland, 20 teams will be laying their bodies on the line from Paris to Marseille in pursuit of the William Webb Ellis Cup.

It is the first time the tournament has been played outside an English-speaking country, which organizers hope will help to promote the sport as a truly international affair.

It might not have the truly universal appeal of football or athletics, but an extra one million visitors are expected to descend on the country during the event pumping an estimated $800 million to the French tourist industry's coffers.

Organizers hope the game will be equally enriched with more competitive matches in the early stages of the tournament and some classic battles of the big teams in the later rounds.

For many new to the game it can be hard to see what the attraction is. The rules can seem baffling and some of the names of the positions fairly cryptic -- a loose head prop doesn't sound like something any sane person would want to be.

Rugby as a spectacle though has come a long was since the inaugural tournament in 1987 when the game was still an amateur affair. Modern day players are faster, stronger and more athletic and their level of skills even higher, although bone-crunching tackles are still a great feature of this physical game.

Of the 20 teams competing, realistically only four teams -- Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and France -- have a chance, with the All Blacks the clear favorites to lift the trophy in Paris on October 20.

Hosts France will be hoping to ride the wave of national fervor and play their brand of open, running rugby that on its day can beat any team, but New Zealand have been in such devastating form for the last two years that any failure to win the competition will probably lead to a day of mourning and national inquiry.

Namibia, Georgia, the USA, Japan and Portugal add to the tournament's international credentials, but in reality they are nothing more than cannon fodder for the game's big guns.

There are bound to be some very lopsided matches in the early rounds, but if any team can cause an upset it might Argentina, who have beaten England and Ireland, twice, in the past 12 months.

On paper, Ireland are the strongest of the sides from the British Isles, narrowly losing out to France in last season's Six Nations Championship, but England, as defending champions feel they have a point to prove.

For England fans winning the competition four years ago seems an impossibly long time ago. Since their talisman Jonny Wilkinson kicked the drop goal that won the final, the team has been in freefall, slipping to seventh in the world rankings and have an abysmal record playing away from home -- 15 losses in 16 matches.

With Wilkinson injured for their first game, things don't bode well for a successful defense of their crown. Canny new coach Brian Ashton has at least arrested their decline since taking over the team less than a year ago. He's plumped for grit and experience over youthful flair, and a tough first round match against South Africa and a possible quarter final with Australia will test the teams metal.

Australia, too have a squad packed with old heads and survivors from the 2003 World Cup final. With 235 international matches between them, much of the Wallabies success will depend on George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, who play in the influential positions of scrum half and fly half.

South Africa's power and direct play make them a real threat, but if the All Blacks play to their potential, with the prodigiously talented fly half Dan Carter pulling the strings, the cup will be going back to New Zealand for the first time since 1987. E-mail to a friend

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