Sporting history is littered with tales of great teams and individuals who did not know when to quit and suffered humiliating exits.
Wales head to the World Cup with the omens against them, drawn in a so-called "group of death" alongside defending champions South Africa and potential South Seas banana skins Fiji and Samoa.
Although the Flying Fijians have slipped outside the top ten in the IRB rankings they are confident of rattling a few reputations at the World Cup.
Namibia, the lowest ranked 2011 World Cup participants, are targeting Group D rivals Fiji in the hope of achieving their first-ever victory at the tournament.
After a successful spring highlighted by taking the title at the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), Dartmouth Rugby will return its focus to the 15-man version of the game Labor Day weekend as part of the annual Dartmouth Rugby Classic presented by Rockwood and Royall Lyme.
Scotland depart for Australia's Gold Coast on Saturday to begin final preparations for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Wasps have strengthened their back-row options ahead of the new season with the signings of Matt Everard and James Harris.
Stade Francais forward Tom Palmer has been added to England's replacement bench, in place of Tom Wood, for Saturdays World Cup warm-up match against Ireland.
Nikki Walker faces further tests on the knee he injured on international duty last weekend before the Ospreys medical team will be able to confirm a full prognosis of the damage suffered.
The Scarlets have unveiled a new signing in their squad for the start of the season, with the arrival in Llanelli of experienced New Zealand scrumhalf Ruki Tipuna.
England's back row resources have been stretched ahead of the World Cup after Tom Wood was forced to pull out of the clash with Ireland.
New Zealand have stepped in to ensure fans of their first World Cup opponent, Tonga, are able to watch the tournament's opening match on free-to-air television in the Pacific island nation.
Brian O'Driscoll may have won everything on the European stage, but he is determined to set the record straight in the one tournament where he believes he and Ireland have yet to make their mark - the World Cup.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) board confirmed the appointment process for the All Blacks head coaching position at the monthly meeting in Wellington this week.
Paul O'Connell accepts it is time for Ireland to deliver after highlighting the significance of Saturday's World Cup send off against England.
