KEY POINTS:
MARSEILLE - Australia's mounting injury toll shows no sign of easing with utility back Scott Staniforth the latest player to be ruled out of Sunday's World Cup quarter-final with England.
Staniforth was expected to be named on the Australian reserves bench because of his ability to cover wing and inside centre, but has been crossed off because of an ongoing shoulder injury.
Staniforth has not played since badly bruising his shoulder in the pool game against Fiji and Wallaby coach John Connolly said he could be sent home if the injury does not quickly improve.
"We'll make a decision after Saturday (Sunday NZ time)," Connolly said.
"But Scott's important to us because of his flexibility...he helps our bench a great deal so he is a big loss."
Staniforth's injury could not have come at a worse time for the Australians, who have already lost wing Mark Gerrard and backrower David Lyons for the tournament and are sweating on the return of first five-eighths Stephen Larkham.
Larkham has already been ruled out of the quarter-finals after undergoing two knee operations and remains in doubt for the semi-finals, should Australia beat England to get there.
Connolly said Larkham had gone for a light run on Wednesday and while he had complained of feeling a little sore, it was an encouraging step forward.
"Stephen went pretty well yesterday, he pulled up a little tight afterwards but wasn't too bad," Connolly said.
"Next Monday we'll have an indication of exactly where he sits and if we are still in that could impact on what replacement we bring in."
There are unlikely to be any major surprises later today when Connolly names his starting team to play England with Stirling Mortlock returning from injury to resume the captaincy.
The Wallabies rested most of their key players for their final pool group against Canada to save themselves for England so the only real conjecture is the makeup of the bench.
"We are in a reasonable place," Connolly said.
"The goal was to get to the quarter-finals with some petrol in the tank.
"Confidence, belief, composure, patience come into play when you get to this stage of a tournament and belief is massive, confidence is how you play the game that's going to get you through to the end is also a big factor."
- REUTERS
