The 12 captains before the iconic London landmark, Tower Bridge - Photo: rugbymatters.net

Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 was officially launched at City Hall in London on Tuesday, rwcwomens.com caught up with captains and coaches of the 12 participating teams to find out how they were all feeling with kick-off only days away.

POOL A

New Zealand captain Melissa Ruscoe: "It's a fantastic history and we use that to create a little pressure on ourselves. We want to be proud of our performance and we want to honour that jersey for all the people who have worn it before us.

"I think the pressure we create ourselves and the standards we want to set as a team. We want to be as professional, both on and off it [the field]. Hopefully if we do those little bits the results will come."

Australia coach John Manenti: "At home, when you tell people at work you're coming to a World Cup to play our two nearest neighbours, they couldn't believe it. It's a World Cup and it's the draw you get, you play with it and you've got to beat everyone if you want to get it to the end."

Australia captain Cheryl Soon: "We're pretty strong from 1 to 26; I believe this is the best team we've brought away to a World Cup so [I'm] feeling pretty confident in that regard. Most of our backs are from our Sevens World Cup campaign, so you can expect some exciting, fast, entertaining and spectacular rugby."

Wales coach Jason Lewis: "Australia are a bit of an unknown, they haven't played much lately so we are not sure quite what to expect. There's been a lot of talk in the press about them being world champions at sevens and whether that is going to transfer to the 15 aside game, and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing them."

Wales captain Mellissa Berry: "We didn't make the last World Cup, so it's been eight years for this day to come and the whole squad are just so excited. It's nerves, anticipation and overall we just cannot wait for Friday to come and open our World Cup account."

South Africa coach Denver Wannies: "We know the pool is a tough one, probably the toughest in the competition but whoever we come up against they will have to play to beat us, because we are going to play to beat them."

South Africa captain Mandisa Williams: "We've played four, won four [in 2010] it was a step up for us - it is where we have drawn our strength for coming up to this World Cup. We are really up for the challenge; we are very keen on doing our country proud."

POOL B

England coach Gary Street: "I'd take a three-nil in the final, but I think it's important to show women's rugby players can play the game, the standard, everything they put in. The commitment and determination and skill level is just brilliant and I'd really like the final to be that."

Ireland coach Philip Doyle: "I'm delighted we are taking them [England] first up so we can surprise them hopefully. They know us very well and I know them very well through the Six Nations, but after we go across the whitewash it's all down to 15 players on each side and every underdog has its day, and let's hope Friday is our day."

Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan: "I think there's a few crazy lunatics coming over [Ireland supporters]. The clubs are really good and the girls in the clubs will be coming over, and a lot of family and friends as well. And there's a lot of Irish based in London as well."

POOL C

Canada coach John Long: "It's always a pleasure to play the curtain raiser, especially in North America where we actually thrive on that sort of thing. A lot of people are out there watching and I think it's a great start to have."

Canada captain Leslie Cripps: "The team is very strong and we are happy to play together, and we are really looking forward to seeing how we can do in this tournament."

Scotland coach Gary Parker: "We've got the likes of Canada and France, who are in the top five or six in the world, so we've got our work cut out. Listen, it's a World Cup there are no easy games."

Scotland captain Lynne Reid: "As always it's an honour to pull on the jersey and represent your country, and whether that takes place in London or in the grounds at Murrayfield the honour of coming out and knowing that you're representing your country is second to none."

Sweden captain Ulrika Andersson-Hall: "We got a lot of publicity last year when we qualified, which was a bit surprising. All the major newspapers wrote about us, we were on national TV a few times and obviously that was a huge boost for us. The last few weeks again it's picked up a little bit back home, but since people don't know the sport that well it's difficult to spread it in Sweden."

OTHERS

IRB Vice Chairman Bill Beaumont: "This is the showcase for the Women's Game. I'd like people to come along and watch because the standard is absolutely unbelievable."

Sky Sports' Will Greenwood: "I think what all sports want is eyeballs and recognition, and for Sky to broadcast virtually every single game that is taking place, and to be right where the action happens, is huge."

Sport England Relationship Manager Phil de Glanville: "Girls come into sport for slightly different reasons and some of the barriers that they face are obviously different. Certainly as teenagers the whole body consciousness side of things has to be factored into all of that.

"The offer has to be tailored slightly for girls to try and make sure you get as many into the sport as you can. You can't just treat them the same as boys and men."

UK Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson MP: "It's really good for the sport involved, in this case Women's Rugby, and it's a fantastic showcase for them. It profiles their game and I hope it brings a much larger audience to Women's Rugby than would otherwise be the case."