Jean De Villiers has announced his retirement from the international game. Photo / Getty Images
Jean De Villiers has announced his retirement from the international game. Photo / Getty Images
With only a couple of days to catch your breath before the next Rugby World Cup match, Scott Yeoman looks at seven things you need to know going into tonight.
1. Georgia preparation
The All Blacks are currently staying at the Cardiff Hilton ahead of their upcoming game against Georgia, which is being played at Millennium Stadium at 8am on Saturday morning (NZ time). They have a team training at Sophia Gardens at 10.30pm tonight (NZ time) and will be holding a press conference at their hotel a couple of hours later.
Tuesday is a day off for the All Blacks, but Steve Hansen names his side for the weekend at midnight on Wednesday (NZ time). All signs suggest Hansen will pick the strongest team yet, with winger Waisake Naholo all set to make his tournament debut. For up-to-date information from the All Blacks camp, including video footage from tonight's training session, visit nzherald.co.nz tomorrow morning.
Our Pacific Island neighbours will be looking for their first win of the Rugby World Cup when they take on Namibia at Sandy Park in Exeter at 4.45am on Wednesday (NZ time). The Tongans should be feeling relatively fresh after having more than a week off since their 17-10 loss to Georgia at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester. The 14th ranked side will have to do it without injured captain Nili Latu, however, after he was ruled out due to a hamstring strain. Tonga has made nine changes for the game, including their entire front five, their first five-eighth, a midfielder and both wings. Namibia, meanwhile, have made eight changes since their 58-14 loss to the All Blacks. This includes their prop, lock, two back-rowers, the halfback, centre and both wings. Flanker Jacques Burger will stay on as captain. The TAB has Tonga as clear favourites, paying $1.03 for the win. Namibia is paying $10 to win.
Tonga v. Namibia, Sandy Park in Exeter, 4.45am on Wednesday (NZ time)
Tonga: Vungakoto Lilo, David Halaifuna, Siale Piutau (co-captain), Sione Piukala, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Latiume Fosita, Sonatane Takulua; Viliami Ma'afu (co-captain), Jack Ram, Sione Kalamafoni, Joseph Tu'ineau, Hale T Pole, Sila Puafisi, Aleki Lutui, Soane Tonga'uiha.
Reserves: Paula Ngauamo, Tevita Mailau, Halani 'Aulika, Tukulua Lokotui, Opeti Fonua, Samisoni Fisilau, Kurt Morath, Telusa Veainu.
Namibia: Janco Venter, Johan Tromp, Danie Van Wyk, Johan Deysel, Russel Van Wyk, Theuns Kotze, Eneill Buitendag; Renaldo Bothma, Rohan Kitshoff, Jacques Burger (captain), Tjiuee Uanivi, Janco Venter, Johannes Coetzee, Torsten Van Jaarsveld, Casper Viviers.
Reserves: Louis van der Westhuizen, Johnny Redelinghuys, AJ De Klerk, Tinus Du Plessis, PJ Van Lill, Damian Stevens, Darryl De La Harpe, David Philander.
It was another weekend of devastating injuries, with the Welsh once again winning at a huge cost.
• Wales' fullback Liam Williams was left unconscious on Sunday morning at Twickenham when he was hit in the head by the shin of England's Tom Wood. He will now have to pass concussion protocols in order to play against Fiji on Friday. Wales also saw wing Hallam Amos go off with an injured shoulder and centre Scott Williams with an injured knee. This comes after centre Cory Allen sustained a hamstring injury against Uruguay in Wales' opening game of the World Cup. Star fullback Leigh Halfpenny and halfback Rhys Webb were ruled before the tournament even started.
• Meanwhile, South African captain Jean de Villiers has retired from international rugby after he fractured his jaw against Samoa on Sunday morning, ruling him out for the rest of the World Cup (see more on this below). The Springboks also have another five or six players with injury concerns including prop Jannie Du Plessis (knee), and centre Damian de Allende (knee). Replacement centre Jesse Kriel has a swollen eye after taking an accidental kick to the face, lock Victor Matfield has a tight hamstring and halfback Fourie du Preez took a blow to the ribs during the game. Lock Eben Etzebeth is also believed to have gone to hospital for x-rays. However, the Springbok camp is remaining optimistic that most of these players, if not all, will be fit for their Scotland clash next weekend.
• Irish fullback Rob Kearney limped off after scoring his side's fifth try in their 44-10 win over Romania this morning. Ireland coach, New Zealander Joe Schmidt, said the injury was through Kearney's glute and hip and that it occurred when his knee hit the ground. The 29-year-old had a hamstring injury going into the World Cup.
• Scotland had lock Grant Gilchrist and first five Finn Russell leaving the field injured during their 39-16 victory over the USA this morning.
• Fiji has had to call up a new player for the second day in a row after prop Isei Colati hurt his left knee in training and was ruled out for the rest of the Rugby World Cup. Winger Waisea Nayacalevu was ruled out on Saturday after injuring his knee against Australia.
I've always wanted to hear Ireland's Call sung live at a Rugby World Cup. I get goose bumps every time I watch it on TV. Imagine having heard it at Wembley Stadium this morning, with a majority-Irish crowd of over 89,000 belting it out. The record crowd painted the famous London stadium green and held nothing back when it came to the pre-game anthem. Check out these videos on YouTube for a small taste of it. What's it going to be like if Ireland go all the way to the semis or the final?
