THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS
MISS WON’T HAUNT HOOK
Wales full-back James Hook claims he was denied a successful penalty kick which could have cost Wales an historic victory over South Africa. His 14th minute effort sailed high and apparently through the posts, but assistant referees Vinny Munro and George Clancy failed to signal that the attempt had been successful and referee Wayne Barnes agreed. Hook said: “Myself and the kicking coach [Neil Jenkins] said it was over, but what can you do? It was one of those things that he didn’t give it and we lost by a point. So it’s as simple as that.”
AUSSIES OVERPOWER ITALY
Australia underlined their billing as the side most likely to prevent New Zealand from claiming the World Cup on home soil with a powerful second-half performance against Italy. After a tight first-half the Wallabies exploded into life after the break with Ben Alexander (right), Adam Ashley-Cooper and James O’Connor all going over in a 32-6 win.
SCOTS MAKE 11 CHANGES
Scotland coach Andy Robinson has made 11 changes from the team which stuttered to a 34-24 win over Romania on Saturday. Only wing Max Evans, prop Allan Jacobsen, Sean Lamont and Kelly Brown are retained from their opening game. Scott Lawson takes the captaincy from Alastair Kellock, who is left out of the matchday 22. Dan Parks, meanwhile, is to start at fly-half.