England, South Africa on troubled path

PARIS: England and South Africa plotted a troubled path to their eagerly awaited World Cup showdown as little Tonga and Fiji struck a blow for the Pacific islands on Wednesday.

Defending champion England goes into today's decisive Pool A clash at the Stade de France without banned skipper Phil Vickery and injured fly-half Olly Barkley.

For its part, the Springboks look likely to be without influential back row forward Schalk Burger after he was hit with a four-match ban and now is clinging to the lifeline of a Thursday appeal.

With that seemingly doomed to fail, coach Jake White has called-up Wickus van Heerden to replace Burger with former skipper Bobby Skinstad promoted to the replacements bench.

Vickery will not appeal against his two-match ban for tripping US center Paul Emerick in his team's opening match.

His place at tighthead prop will be taken by South Africa-born forward Matt Stevens with Martin Corry, the man Vickery replaced as captain, leading the side in a game which is likely to decide who finishes top of the pool and avoids Australia in the quarter-finals.

Adding to England's problems will be the absence of Barkley, who sustained a hip injury in training.

He was the man-of-the-match in England's lackustre 28-10 opening win against the United States.

His place at No 10 will be taken by former Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell, making his first start at outside-half as a union player, a measure forced on the management by the continuing absence of Jonny Wilkinson.

England director of rugby, Rob Andrew, a former fly-half, said he has no worries about Farrell, who has yet to score a Test point in the union game.

"He's shown all along he has got all the attributes in terms of his skills, decision-making and his kicking and his defence as well," said Andrew.

The 24-year-old Burger picked up his suspension for his tackle on Samoan scrum-half Junior Poluleuligaga in Sunday's 59-7 win.

Meanwhile, Tonga, who is in the same Pool A as England and South Africa, beat the United States 25-15 in Montpellier for only its third World Cup win.

The Tongans exploded out of the blocks with a try in the second minute and wrapped up the contest with two spectacular tries to winger Joseph Vaka and replacement Viliami Vaki in the final quarter in baking heat.

"One of our goals was to win our first game and that I hope is going to open a lot of doors," said Tonga skipper Nili Latu.

In Toulouse, Fiji overcame sweltering conditions and stubborn Japanese resistance to win its opening Pool B match 35-31.

Fiji celebrated tries from Akapusi Qera (2), Seru Rabeni and Kele Leawere, which also gave it a bonus point, while Luke Thompson (2) and Soma Tomokazu crossed for Japan, who were demolished 91-3 by Australia in their opening game.

In Wednesday's late match, Italy rebounded from their 76-14 mauling at the hands of the All Blacks to clinch an unconvincing 24-18 win against Romania in Marseille.

Italy scored through Santiago Dellape and a penalty try, with a further 14 points coming from the boots of David Bortolussi and Ramiro Pez, while Romania responded with two tries from flanker Alexandru Manta and hooker Marius Tincu.

Australia has made two changes to its starting team for its key Pool B match against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

Drew Mitchell replaces winger Adam Ashley-Cooper, who injured his toe against Japan, while Guy Shepherdson returns at tight-head prop in place of Al Baxter.

"This is a crucial game as far as our pool is concerned and a lot of what we have done over the past 12 months has been preparing us for this game," said Australia coach John Connolly.

Meanwhile, France coach Bernard Laporte has made wholesale changes to his team for the Pool D clash against Namibia on Sunday following the disastrous opening 17-12 defeat by Argentina.

Laporte has brought in 12 players to the starting line-up including the Toulouse halfback partnership of the Frederic Michalak and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who will captain the side.

Skipper Rafael Ibanez and former captain Fabien Pelous drop to the bench.

AFP

(China Daily 09/14/2007 page23)