The sixth Rugby World Cup gets under way at 2000 BST on Friday when hosts France take on dark horses Argentina in front of an 80,000 crowd in Paris. 
Rugby union's showpiece event features 20 teams from across the globe, with New Zealand the strong favourites.
England are aiming to become the first team to defend the title, but need to find a huge improvement in form.
They start against the USA on Saturday, while Wales, Scotland and Ireland begin their campaigns on Sunday.
Four years ago in Australia, Jonny Wilkinson's famous last-gasp drop-goal gave England a gripping 20-17 win over the hosts and made them the first northern hemisphere side to win the trophy.
But the champions, who are in the same group as second favourites South Africa, go into the tournament having slipped to seventh in the world rankings since 2003.
They have lost five of their last six Tests and their record away from Twickenham in recent times is appalling.
Ireland, who have captain Brian O'Driscoll fit again after a facial injury, face the hardest route to the quarter-finals.
They are in the Pool D alongside Argentina and France - all three teams are in the top six of the world rankings.
Scotland are grouped with New Zealand and Italy, who they meet in a crunch pool game on 29 September.
Wales have Australia, the only country to win the tournament twice, in their pool, but should be too strong for their other group rivals.
The tournament, which ends with the final in Paris on 20 October, will feature 48 matches with 12 stadia - including Edinburgh's Murrayfield and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - sharing the honour of staging games.
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