News from New Zealand, Scotland ,Australia, Wales, and United States

New ZealandNew Zealand lock Keith Robinson has been ruled out of Saturday's opener with Italy with a calf strain. The injury-prone 30-year-old will be rested from the Azzurri clash in Marseille, having fought back from knee and back injuries to join the squad.

"It's not ideal but you have to play the cards you've been dealt and get on with the job," Robinson said. "I've given it a little tweak, I'm managing it and we're taking it 24 hours at a time."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry added: "Keith is getting the best treatment available and has a very positive attitude. We're hoping he will be ready in a couple of weeks."

Henry must now risk one or both first-choice secondrows, Chris Jack and Ali Williams, against the Italians.

ScotlandScotland flanker John Barclay has revealed he laughed off a prediction he would make the World Cup squad. The 20-year-old former Dollar Academy pupil will be the youngest and only uncapped member of Frank Hadden's squad, who fly out to France today.

The pace of his progression from skippering Dollar to the Scottish Schools Cup title in 2004, through to the Scotland A side and into the World Cup squad, surprised everyone except his former coach Jon Phillips.

Phillips, then head of Caledonia Rugby Academy, told Barclay of his bold prediction, shortly after spotting him in that Schools final.

"To be honest, I just laughed it off. But it has happened and a lot quicker than I would have imagined and I'm not complaining," said Barclay.

AustraliaWallabies coach John Connolly wants to see an Australian succeed him as the nation's coach when he ends his two-year tenure at the end of the World Cup.

Connolly will step down as head coach at the completion of the World Cup campaign in October and the veteran coach expressed his view that the incoming coach should be Australian-born.

"I think if you are a foreigner, at times, it doesn't quite mean as much to you as if it was your country and it becomes another job and I think coaching a country is more than that," said Connolly.

New Zealander Robbie Deans - current coach of the successful Super 14 side the Crusaders - is the favourite on an eight-man list to replace Connolly.

WalesWales outhalf Stephen Jones last night declared himself fit to start the World Cup - just six weeks after fearing he would be ruled out of the tournament altogether.

Jones admitted it was "touch and go" whether he would need surgery on a hip-flexor injury, suffered during Wales's pre-World Cup training camp in Brittany.

But on his return to St Nazaire, Jones came through a full training session and confirmed he is fit to play in Sunday's opening clash against Canada.

"I am ready to go now," he said. "When I had the injury out here I wasn't sure what the state of play was. It was touch and go whether I needed an operation. If that was the case I would have missed the whole season."

United StatesUnited States coach Peter Thorburn, whose squad are preparing for their opening match against England in Lens, hopes to see America's forwards make a statement.

The ex-Bristol coach said: "I think people may be quite surprised at the size of some of our players. We have a very big pack, and that is where we hope to be competitive."

And Eagles lock Mike Mangan added: "This is a huge opportunity to see where our best mark is. We are going in to give it all we have got.

"The good thing is that there are a few guys who have played in front of a huge crowd before in college football, so I think we will be okay with that."

Thorburn is due to announce his starting line-up for Saturday's game tomorrow afternoon.