Shane Williams is back in the Wales team for Sunday's clash with France just weeks after fearing his World Cup could be wrecked by a degenerative nerve problem.

Williams was forced to undergo surgery earlier this summer when the rare injury, which initially caused bouts of pins and needles, began to leave his right hand paralysed in an involuntary clenched fist. A nerve had come loose in Williams' right elbow and it needed to be transferred under a muscle to keep it properly protected.

Despite assurances to the contrary, Williams was concerned the vital procedure could end up costing him a place at the World Cup. But the Ospreys winger enjoyed a trouble-free recovery - and he will take the field against France on Sunday determined to grasp his World Cup chance with both hands. Literally.

But in the meantime, Wales are determined to succeed where England failed over the last two weekends - and head out to the

2007 World Cup after beating the French.

WALES (v France): K Morgan (N-G Dragons); M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), J Robinson (Cardiff Blues), G Thomas (Cardiff Blues, capt), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Ospreys), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); D Jones (Ospreys); M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), C Horsman (Worcester), I Gough (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Popham (Llanelli Scarlets). Replacements: TR Thomas (Cardiff Blues), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), W James (Gloucester), C Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Phillips (Ospreys), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Parker (Ospreys).

Travel trouble for the Springboks

South Africa suffered a torrid time travelling from Ireland to Scotland on Tuesday night ahead of tomorrow's Test match at Murrayfield - but head coach Jake White believes that a little bit of hardship will benefit his players in the long run. A second string Springbok side scraped past Connacht on Tuesday evening, and White is hoping that experience along with the squad having to catch an early morning flight to Edinburgh, will help focus minds ahead of next month's Rugby World Cup. He said: "I won't sit here and say we've had the ideal preparation - it took us half the time to get from Shannon to Edinburgh as it took from Cape Town to Shannon. But we set this up and knew we'd have to travel a bit more than we usually do, that we'd have to show a bit more character and maybe get out of our comfort zone.

"Our group of players have to realise that we get spoiled now - we get very well looked after by British Airways. Our luggage is all booked through before we arrive at the airport, it's all in our rooms waiting. So I think it's good to go on a tour like this and see what life's really like.

"Standing in a queue to book your own luggage in, when you haven't showered for 11 hours, is different to what they're used to."

Sharks disbelief

Philippe Saint-Andre admits he is still in a state of disbelief about Charlie Hodgson's omission from the England World Cup squad.

Sale Sharks outhalf Hodgson is likely to line up in tomorrow night's clash against Samoa - one of England's World Cup pool opponents - at Edgeley Park.

Hodgson, who suffered a knee injury nine months ago, set out on the comeback trail when Sale tackled French club Bayonne last weekend.

But he ran out of time to prove his match fitness ahead of England head coach Brian Ashton's World Cup squad announcement nine days ago.

Sharks rugby director Saint-Andre said: "Charlie looked very good and kicked 14 points in the first-half for us (against Bayonne). I cannot believe that England have overlooked him, but their loss is Sale Sharks' gain."

Hodgson is likely to feature in a strong Sale side that should also include Magnus Lund, Richard Wigglesworth, Chris Jones, Dean Schofield and Steve Hanley.

Auckland favoured

The 2011 World Cup final and both semi-finals are likely to be played at Auckland's revamped Eden Park stadium, New Zealand officials said yesterday.

Officials are still considering the idea of playing the semi-finals in Wellington and Christchurch but are leaning towards playing them both in Auckland - which has already been confirmed as the venue for the final.

Rugby balls seized

French customs officers intercepted 998 counterfeit World Cup rugby balls made in India being imported to the host country ahead of the start of the tournament next month, the government said yesterday.

The red and yellow balls, which were imported in violation of licensing laws to protect the official tournament ball, were seized by customs officials at Strasbourg's Entzheim airport in eastern France as they were awaiting customs clearance.World Cup 2007

14 days to go