Wallabies will be a strong side

Stirling Mortlock is captain with Phil Waugh and George Gregan his deputies.

Fiji and Canada make up Group B alongside Wales, the Wallabies and Japan.

Gregan will be taking part in his fourth World Cup before moving to play club rugby in France, and Stephen Larkham and Chris Latham will both compete in their third tournament.

There are few surprises in Connolly's squad, although the selection of 21-year-old Berrick Barnes as second-choice fly-half, ahead of Sam Norton-Knight, was not widely predicted.

Prop Greg Holmes is named ahead of Benn Robinson and Rodney Blake, despite missing the whole of the domestic Test campaign with shoulder problems.

And number eights Wycliff Palu and David Lyons are both included despite recent injuries.

The squad leave Sydney on Thursday for a week's training in Portugal, and are due to arrive at their tournament base in Montpellieron 31 August.