Today's other stories in brief
Italy's Parisse suffers serious knee ligament injury
ITALY CAPTAIN Sergio Parisse suffered a serious knee ligament injury yesterday and could be missing for up to six months, which would rule him out of February’s Six Nations. The number eight was earlier named in the team for tomorrow’s final November Test with Samoa but his place will now be taken by Josh Sole.
“At the moment the possibility of surgery can’t be excluded, which would have a recovery time of around 120 to 180 days,” Italy doctor Roberto Pozzoni said.
Stade Francais’s Parisse, who injured his right knee in training, has been a driving force for Italy and was especially impressive in their first November Test when they lost 20-6 to New Zealand in Milan.
Sole has come in as blindside flanker with Alessandro Zanni moving from six to number eight. Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini becomes captain and Antonio Pavanello takes Sole’s place on the bench.
ITALY: L McLean, K Robertson, G Canale, G Garcia, M Bergamasco, C Gower, T Tebaldi; A Zanni, M Bergamasco, J Sole, Q Geldenhuys, C A Del Fava, M Castrogiovanni, L Ghiraldini (capt), S Perugini. Replacements: F Ongaro, I Rouyet, A Pavanello, S Favaro, S Picone, R Bocchino, A Sgarbi.
Lievremont thinks France can do it
THE WINS over world champions South Africa and Samoa have sharpened the ambitions of France coach Marc Lievremont who is now eyeing a victory over New Zealand tomorrow in Marseille.
“To win that game would really be splendid, huge,” he said yesterday at the France training camp in Marcoussis. “To end this tour unbeaten after defeating twice the number one team in the world, South Africa first and then New Zealand who had just recovered top spot, would be an exceptional feat for our young team. I think we can do it,” he added.
The French coach, however, acknowledged the task would be difficult because the All Blacks were also taking a serious approach to the game. “Saturday’s Test is their last game of the season. They are unbeaten so far in their tour but they know that this is the game that will count.” he said.
Borthwick gets high praise
ENGLAND CAPTAIN Steve Borthwick has been given a ringing endorsement by Saracens coach Paul Gustard ahead of his return to domestic duty at Worcester tonight.
Borthwick came under heavy fire following England’s dismal autumn Test series and there were calls in some quarters for him to be stripped of the captaincy and even removed from the side altogether.
The 30-year-old lock is back in action for Saracens at Sixways when his side will be seeking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season with a ninth successive Guinness Premiership win. Gustard said: “Having Steve Borthwick back in the side is fantastic.”
Chris Wyles and Moses Rauluni also return after international duty with USA and Fiji respectively.
Januarie agrees three-month loan deal with Ospreys
SOUTH AFRICA’S Ricky Januarie has agreed a three-month loan deal with the Ospreys to provide emergency cover after the club lost three scrumhalves through injury.
The 27-year-old, who has 40 caps for the Springboks, will arrive at the Liberty Stadium at the beginning of December – with Januarie lined up to make his Magners League debut against the Scarlets on St Stephen’s Day.
With Mike Phillips, Jamie Nutbrown and Tom Isaacs ruled out for the foreseeable future, and young player Rhys Webb making a tentative return from injury, Januarie will be a welcome addition to the squad.
Januarie spent the year playing for the Stormers in the Super 14 and Western Province in the Currie Cup and last featured for the Springboks in September against New Zealand.
He also played in the first Test against the British Irish Lions in June, which finished 26-21 to South Africa.
Elite performance director for the Ospreys Andrew Hore said: “December and January is a particularly tough period in the rugby calendar. It is make-or-break time in terms of European competition, and the possibility of securing a home quarter-final.”
Coach Deans gets fitness boost ahead of Wales game
AUSTRALIA COACH Robbie Deans has been given a fitness boost ahead of the final leg of their European tour against Wales in Cardiff tomorrow. Backs Digby Ioane and Will Genia, plus forwards Wycliff Palu and Benn Robinson, are all ready to start a match Deans knows will be tough after the Wallabies lost 21-18 last year.
Australia are still licking their wounds after losing to Scotland last weekend for the first time since 1982, a result that ruined their hopes of an unbeaten tour.
The quartet were all doubts due to injury, with Ioane a late withdrawal from last weekend’s test, while Genia, Palu and Robinson were forced from the field in that match.
Their availability was confirmed after they successfully came through training yesterday.
There are also starts for flanker David Pocock and lock Dean Mumm in place of George Smith and Mark Chisholm respectively.
AUSTRALIA:A Ashley-Cooper, P Hynes, D Ioane, Q Cooper, D Mitchell, M Giteau, W Genia; W Palu, D Pocock, R Elsom (capt), D Mumm, J Horwill, B Alexander, S Moore, B Robinson. Replacements: T Polota Nau, M Dunning, M Chisholm, G Smith, L Burgess, J OConnor, K Beale.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
