The World Rugby Classic begins tomorrow with a Lions side packed full of talent looking to get off to a winning start against Canada.

Last year's rather disappointing final performance in a comprehensive 24-0 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks seems to have fired the Lions who have named a squad that have a whopping 605 full international caps between them.

The team list is a who's who of British and Irish stars from the past two decades with the likes of Girvan Dempsey, Daffyd James and Ben Clarke all in the side.

Ireland alone provide 11 of the 24-man squad, with Shane Byrne, Malcolm O'Kelly, Anthony Foley, Kevin Maggs and Rob Henderson among those joining Dempsey in coming to Bermuda.

Scotland are also well represented, with Gordon Bulloch, Cameron Mather and Stuart Moffart in the Lions' ranks.

The selection of Dempsey, Maggs and Henderson gives the Lions' backline a far more threatening look than they have had in the previous two Classics. The trio span the spectrum of a golden era of Irish rugby, which saw Henderson star in Ireland's first win in Paris in 28 years during the 2000 Six Nations, and was followed by Dempsey and Maggs playing in Triple Crown sides in 2004 and 2006.

Given that Canada's rather less experienced side have only 206 Test caps between them, the temptation would be to see this as a gentle start for the Lions, although previous experience will have taught them that no side should be underestimated.

Canada's ranks include the likes of Morgan Williams, Mark Cardinal and Tom Woods, all of whom have a wealth of international experience.

The day's second game will see South Africa take on the Classic Eagles, and again, the temptation is there to see this as likely being a rather one-sided affair. Bobby Skinstad is back to lead the Classic Springboks, while Robbie Flek and Dion Kayser are also in the South Africa squad.

With the United States' two most experienced players being hooker Juan Grobler (34caps) and flanker Kevin Whitcher, who has represented the US 80 times on the Sevens circuit, the South Africans should be favourites to win this quite comfortably.

A win for the Springboks would set up a semi-final clash against the Lions, if they beat Canada, on Wednesday night.

Tomorrow sees Canada take on the Classic Lions at 2.30 p.m. and South Africa face the United States at 4 p.m.

Classic Lions: Andrew Howell (Prop, Wales A), Len Dineen (Prop, Ireland A), Gordon Bulloch (Hooker, 75 caps, Scotland), Shane Byrne (Hooker, 41 caps, Ireland), Derek Eves (Lock, England A), Malcolm O'Kelly (Lock, 92 caps, Ireland), Anthony Foley (Flanker, 62 caps, Ireland), Alex Janic (Flanker, Blackheath), Andy Ward (Flanker, 28 caps, Ireland), Cameron Mather (Backrow, 10 caps, Scotland), Paul Volley (Backrow, Barbarians), Ben Clarke (No 8/Flanker, 40 caps, England), Rory Jenkins (No.8, England A), Niall Hogan (Scrumhalf, 13 caps, Ireland), Dave Scully (Scrumhalf, England A & 7s), Niall Malone (Outhalf, three caps, Ireland), Rob Henderson (Centre, 29 caps, Ireland), Kevin Maggs (Centre, 70 caps, Ireland), Dafydd James (Wing, 48 caps, Wales), Ben Breeze (Wing, Wales A & 7s), Gareth Morris (Wing, Ospreys), James Topping (Wing, eight caps, Ireland), Girvan Dempsey (Fullback, 82 caps, Ireland), Stuart Moffat (Fullback, four caps, Scotland).

Canada: Kevin Wirachowski (Prop, 20 caps), Garth Cooke (Prop, 36 caps), David Cameron (Prop), Aaron Duchscherer (Hooker), Mark Cardinal (30 caps), Dave Laing (Lock), Ramzi Azar (Flanker), John Harrison (Flanker), Ryan Morrison (Flanker), Rob Robson (Flanker, 12 caps), Dave Knowles (No 8), Adam Van Staveren (No 8, 20 caps), Guy Vorster (Outhalf), Dave Hitchcock (Outhalf), Steve Gittens (Outhalf), Roger Robinson (Centre, one cap), Tom Woods (Centre, 20 caps), Akio Tyler (Centre, 10 caps), Derek Daypuck (Centre, 18 caps), Mike Brown (Centre), Todd Cunningham (Centre), Dan Harlow (Wing, Canada 7s), Mike Sutherland (Wing), Morgan Williams (Fullback, 39 caps).

Classic Springboks: Frikkie Du Plooy (Prop), Mark Wood (Prop, two caps), Pietman Vaniekerk (Prop), Evert Ferriera (Hooker), Shimanga (Hooker, five caps), Barry Pinnock (Lock), Riaan van der Merwe (Lock), Pieter Featherstone (Lock), Bobby Skinstad (Flanker, 40 caps), Jonno Brayley (Flanker, SA XV), Blackie Swart (Flanker), Bennie Jacobs (No.8), Pieter Meyer (Scrumhalf), Josh Fowles (Scrumhalf, SA 7s), Dion Kayser (Outhalf, 25 caps), Dale Heightman (Outhalf, SA 7s), Chris Kruger (Centre, SA 7s), Robbie Fleck (Centre, 31 caps), Sasha Marot (Centre, SA 7s), Marc Watson (Wing, 12 caps & 7s), Wim Meyer (Wing), Jonathan Aitkin (Wing, one cap), John Du Toit (Fullback, SA 7s).

Classic Eagles: Henry Bloomfield (Prop, five caps), Ray Green (Hooker, 11 caps), Juan Grobler (Hooker, 34 caps), Jason Gillam (Prop, one cap), Hal Struckman (Lock), Don Younger (Flanker, four caps & 80 at 7s), Kevin Whitcher (Flanker, 80 caps at 7s), Dennis Walker (Flanker), Brett Babineaux (Flanker), Isaac Mbereko (Scrumhalf, six A caps), Chris Morrow (Outhalf, 12 caps & 7s), Mike Harvey (Wing, 12 caps at 7s), Simon Dogbe (Centre), David Yavala (Centre), Eric Masterson (Fullback, four A caps), Guy Mumford (Hooker, three A caps), Sean Maguire (Flanker), Justin Clark (Flanker), Doug Rowe (Scrumhalf, two caps & 10 at 7s), Sammy Gonzales (Outhalf), Scott Davis (Centre), Michael Hurley (Fullback).