THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS
IT’S A KNOCKOUT FOR WALES
Lock Luke Charteris has reflected on Wales’ shattering defeat against South Africa by declaring: “We are playing knockout rugby now.” Wales flew out of Wellington yesterday ready to regroup and prepare for Sunday’s Pool D showdown with Samoa in Hamilton. “It’s the World Cup, and unfortunately we are playing knockout rugby now,” said Charteris. “We can’t lose again. We have got to win all our games through to the final.
IOANE MISSES IRELAND CLASH
Australia winger Digby Ioane has been ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup clash with Ireland because of a fractured thumb. Ioane sustained the injury during Sunday’s 32-6 Pool C win over Italy after coming into contact with the boot of Mirco Bergamasco. The 26-year-old will be operated on and will remain with the Wallabies in New Zealand with a view to playing later in the tournament.
TIESI BLOW FOR PUMAS
Argentina centre Gonzalo Tiesi will miss the rest of the Rugby World Cup after suffering knee ligament damage in the Pumas’ 13-9 defeat to England. Tiesi, the former Harlequins player, was injured in a tackle from England’s Courtney Lawes and has been replaced in the squad by Lucas Borges.
LAWSON’S RECORD
Scrum-half Rory Lawson (left) will aim to extend his 100 per cent record as Scotland captain in the World Cup Pool B clash with Georgia tomorrow. He said: “We got a bit of a fright on Saturday against Romania and if ever we needed a little bit of wake-up call, that was it. But we came out of that with five points, and now we’re looking forward to Georgia.