All the latest news and reaction in one place from Day 4 of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Wales rocked by Allen injury
Wales centre Cory Allen, who scored three of his country’s eight tries in their Rugby World Cup opener against Uruguay, was ruled out of the rest of the tournament by a hamstring tear on Monday.
The Welsh, already rocked by injuries to key backs Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb in their final warm-up match, had six players added to their casualty list during Sunday’s 54-9 victory in Cardiff.
Allen pulled up with the injury in the second half and after having scans was replaced in the squad by Tyler Morgan, who joins Scott Williams and Jamie Roberts to restore the number of specialist centres in the squad to three.
British and Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies was ruled out of the tournament by a knee injury.
Waqaniburotu banned for dangerous tackle
Fiji flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu was suspended for one week on Monday after admitting an act of foul play during the opening Rugby World Cup match against England.
Waqaniburotu, who was not punished by the referee, was cited for dangerous tip tackle on England winger Jonny May and will miss Fiji’s Pool A game against Australia in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Judicial officer Chris Smith reviewed television footage of the incident and deemed it to be “low-end”, also taking into account Waqaniburotu’s admission and remorse before deciding on a one-week ban.
Romania pick experience for France clash
Romania named their most experienced ever World Cup team for the Pool D game against France at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Mihai Macovei leads a starting side with an average age of over 29 and a combined 684 test appearances.
Team: 1-Mihaita Lazar, 2-Otar Turashvili, 3-Paulica Ion, 4-Valentin Poparlan, 5-Johannes van Heerden, 6-Valentin Ursache, 7-Viorel Lucaci, 8-Mihai Macovei (captain); 9-Florin Surugiu, 10-Danut Dumbrava, 11-Adrian Apostol, 12-Florin Vlaicu, 13-Paula Kinikinilau, 14- Madalin Lemnaru, 15-Catalin Fercu
Replacements: 16-Andrei Radoi, 17-Andrei Ursache, 18-Horatiu Pungea, 19-Ovidiu Tonita, 20-Stelian Burcea, 21-Valentin Calafeteanu, 22-Ionut Botezatu, 23-Csaba Gal
Fofana returns for France
Wesley Fofana is back from injury as France coach Philippe Saint-Andre rests almost all of the team from Les Bleus’ opening game for Wednesday’s Rugby World Cup Pool D match against Romania.
Of the 15 players who started the campaign with a 32-10 victory against Italy on Saturday, only wing Noa Nakaitaci and number eight Louis Picamoles were named in the starting line-up for Wednesday’s game at the Olympic Stadium.
Team: 1-Vincent Debaty, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski (captain), 3-Uini Atonio, 4-Bernard Le Roux, 5-Alexandre Flanquart, 6-Yannick Nyanga, 7-Fulgence Ouedraogo, 8-Louis Picamoles, 9-Morgan Parra, 10-Remi Tales, 11-Noa Nakaitaci, 12-Wesley Fofana, 13-Gael Fickou, 14-Sofiane Guitoune, 15-Brice Dulin.
Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Eddy Ben Arous, 18-Nicolas Mas, 19-Yoann Maestri, 20-Damien Chouly, 21-Rory Kockott, 22-Frederic Michalak, 23-Mathieu Bastareaud
Samoa wary of wounded Springboks
Samoa expect South Africa to come out all guns blazing in their Rugby World Cup encounter on Saturday as the wounded Springboks look to atone for their shocking 34-32 defeat to Japan in their Pool B opener.
The loss to Japan, which has been described as the greatest upset in the history of the tournament, would ensure South Africa are fully focused for the game at Villa Park, said Samoa coach Stephen Betham.
“We know there will be probably be a backlash, but we’re going to be ready for it,” he said as the Pacific Islanders began preparations for the clash. “We are going to give it everything.”
Samoa, looking to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for a third time, got their own campaign started on Sunday with a 25-16 victory over the United States at the Brighton Community Stadium, the same venue where Japan beat twice champions South Africa.
Pumas battle provides jolt to All Blacks
New Zealand were rusty and will only improve as the Rugby World Cup progresses, coach Steve Hansen said as the holders needed all their guile and craft to overcome Argentina 26-16 in their Pool C opener on Sunday.
Hansen hailed his bench for injecting energy and urgency in the second half as the All Blacks wore down their combative opponents after trailing for 56 minutes at Wembley Stadium.
“It took a long time to get on top,” Hansen told a news conference.
“No doubt we were rusty. Really rusty. Not only that, there was some apprehension and I’ve seen that from every team this weekend. That’s what comes with the World Cup and the first match, everyone is desperate to get started, get points on the board.”
Behind 13-12 at halftime, Hansen made four changes in the first five minutes of the second half, with replacement Sonny Bill Williams providing the missing spark in the backline.
