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MONTPELLIER - Rival nations fear Australia will get a sneaky scientific advantage at the Rugby World Cup with ion-charged jerseys that needed to be drug-tested.
But the Wallabies won't be getting any extra assistance in their pool B opener on Saturday in Lyon, as Japan will also wear the revolutionary jumper.
The material reacts with sweat to create a negative ion charge to stimulate blood flow, bringing more energy to muscles and speeding up the removal of lactic acid.
England-based sports science testing purports to showing it gives athletes a 2.7 per cent boost.
Ironically, the jerseys have been made by New Zealand sportswear manufacturer Canterbury but the All Blacks have not taken the technology on board as they attempt to break a 20-year World Cup drought.
Australia, who unveiled their new jumper against South Africa in Sydney on July 7, and Japan are two of five nations wearing the state-of-the-art garments.
The Springboks, Scotland and Ireland are also wearing the Canterbury jersey.
The Australian Rugby Union was approached about using the material earlier this year and were made to sign a confidentiality agreement.
The jersey reportedly has upset England and the International Rugby Board had referred it on for drug testing by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
Wada have approved the jersies for the seven-week tournament.
England have missed the boat with their World Cup uniforms but three forwards - Phil Vickery, Andy Sheridan and Matt Stevens - intend wearing ionised singlets under their Nike jerseys.
- AAP
