Bobby in the Bok front row

Mar del Plata - Bobby Skinstad's first game in 14 months will not be in his familiar position at No 8, but rather in the front row of the Springbok sevens rugby side here today.

The Western Province, Stormers and Springbok loose forward on Thursday declared himself "ready" for competitive rugby again after he last played in the 15-man World Cup semifinal against Australia in 1999.

Skinstad's Stormers team-mate Breyton Paulse is also in the starting line-up for South Africa's opener at the World Cup sevens against Taiwan, one of three games the Springboks play on day one of the three-day competition.

South Africa also face Canada and the Cook Islands on the opening day.

National team coach Norman Mbiko, meanwhile, warned his players not to get complacent about their first-match opponents from the east.

"We had a scare against Taiwan at the annual Hong Kong tournament in 1998 and the team know that they should not think this will be a push-over side," said Mbiko after the Springboks' final practice on Thursday.

It is clear that South Africa would want to erase the memories of the World Cup final of 1997 by going one better this time round.

Four years ago, after a stunning 31-7 demolition of New Zealand in the semifinal, South Africa lost by four points (24-21) to champions Fiji.

"We will take it one game at a time, a place in the final is ultimately what teams are here for," said captain Warren Britz, who is playing in his first World Cup. "We have the blend right. It's just a question of everyone giving 100%."

Mbiko has put a lot of emphasis on defence, making full use of the width of the field and getting the running angles right since the squad first assembled in Pretoria on January 16. He believes these are key components of the sevens game.

"In this game, you want to avoid contact... that is why it's important that we get the angles right and we have the players to do just that," the coach said.

"The input from the experienced players like Bobby (Skinstad), Breyton (Paulse) and Chester (Williams) has been great. But the rest of the team, too, have contributed to the way we think the game should be played. The secret is team work," Mbiko said.

South Africa are in Pool B alongside France, Canada, Taiwan, Cook Islands and Georgia.

"This is not as easy a draw as people think," Mbiko said.

"Canada are a physical side and we all know what the French are capable of so don't think we can take it as read that we will walk over these sides," he added.

That is certainly not the attitude of the New Zealanders.

Captain Eric Rush said this week they were here to win the tournament.

"But we will have to play our best rugby to achieve that. We are feeling all right and we had a good build-up (to this event). This team will play its heart out and the potential is big," Rush said.

New Zealand open their campaign with a "warm-up" against Spain but England and Japan will provide tougher opposition.

Winger Jonah Lomu, who spearheads the All Blacks' challenge, is likely to be rested in the early games and used as a weapon of destruction as the tournament reaches its climax.

Australia suffered a setback when flying wing Matt Dowling, who plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 12, injured his ankle at practice and returned home. He is replaced by Alan McDonald.

The opening match of the tournament is between Wales and Portugal at 7pm (SA time).

SA team against Taiwan:

Warren Britz (captain), Helgard Brink, Ricardo Laubscher, Andre Pretorius, Breyton Paulse, Bobby Skinstad and Paul Treu. Bench: Wayne van Heerden, Rodger Smith and Chester Williams. Referee: Scott Young (Australia)

Kick-off: 10.40pm (SA time)

SA's other opening day matches: v Canada (3am SA time) and Cook Islands (5am SA time).

SA's programme tomorrow: v Georgia (9.40pm SA time) and France (2am SA time)

TV: Live on CSN from 7pm