Ireland are the new Wales
Ireland, who play their quarter-final Argentina in Cardiff on Monday, have lost loose forward Peter O'Mahony (knee injury) for the rest of the tournament. Lock and captain had not yet been officially ruled out after suffering a significant hamstring tear against France, but his fellow players are reportedly resigned to his fate. Star No. 10 Jonny Sexton is awaiting scan results on a groin injury and there is some hope that he might return to World Cup action. Wales went into the World Cup as the most injury-hit squad, but Ireland have been hit hardest as the quarter-finals approach.
Bad omens, good omen.
Scotland will not be relishing the venue for their quarter-final against the in-form Australians. Since 1911, Scotland have played 47 matches at Twickenham, all against England, but have won only four, and none for 32 years, the RWC news site reports. However, Scotland halfback and captain Greig Laidlaw's uncle Roy scored one of the tries in that win.
No Scot free
Scottish hooker Ross Ford (dangerous tackle) and lock Jonny Gray (tip tackle) have been cited after the narrow win over Samoa, putting them in doubt for the quarterfinal against Australia on Monday. Star Aussie loosie David Pocock escaped a citing for kneeing Wales' Scott Baldwin.
Rank decision
World Rugby says it will probably make another early draw for the 2019 World Cup in Japan. The system has been criticised for using rankings that are out of date by by the time the World Cup is actually played. But AP reports that WR believes it needs to give broadcasters and Japanese fans certainty. Japan's hosting of the 2020 Olympics might make that even more of an imperative. But there is progress in another area - WR boss Brett Gosper said they are backing the call by Tier Two nations to play more tests against the Tier One teams.
Baby steps
Australian lock Dean Mumm has revealed his newborn baby was struggling to breathe on the day that Mumm captained the Wallabies for the first time, in victory over Uruguay. The baby had been born in a London hospital a month early.
"He struggled a bit early, he was a month premature and was in the neonatal intensive care unit, and the staff were brilliant there," Mumm told The Australian.
"He needed breathing help for 24 hours and after that he was eased out. He is still little, but all the signs are now positive."
Mumm's wife encouraged him to go back to play the match at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Man of the Match voted out
World Cup boss Alan Gilpin said the controversial man-of-the match system, which has thrown up some strange winners, would be changed. England's Joe Launchbury admitted to being embarrassed after winning the award in England's defeat to Australia.
