El Magic passed fit for Lebanon
LEBANON
Many people's dark horses, Lebanon enter their first ever World Cup determined to justify that tag.
Although wild speculation about their line-up – rumours of a squad full of first-grade Australian NRL players are wide of the mark – may have elevated the Cedars to an unrealistic level in the public's eyes, there is no doubt they have the potential to leave an indelible mark on the competition.
Led by Canterbury Bulldogs try-scoring sensation Hazem El Masri, Lebanon's squad is made up entirely of Sydney-based Australians who qualify through the parentage rule.
Formed in 1995, the team, and for that matter the game of rugby league, has never set foot in Lebanon but that is not to say they don't enjoy popular support outside their native country.
The Cedars have staged a number of games in and around Sydney which have always attracted large crowds drawn from the huge Lebanese population in the city.
Such massive support back home would have been more than enough to ensure the Cedars are hugely motivated, but there is another, more poignant reason for wanting to do well.
Joint-coach John Elias would have been lining up on the field had stomach cancer – which he is still battling - not forced his retirement, and there will no man keener to do well than Elias, one of the main driving forces behind the Cedars' inauguration.
Lebanon's chances of upsetting group favourites New Zealand and Wales may hinge largely on how they fare against the Kiwis in their opening encounter at Gloucester's Kingshom Stadium.
It's probably asking too much for the Cedars to beat Frank Endacott's side – but push them close and a certain Welsh outfit may start to eye their clash at Llanelli's Stradey park a mite nervously.