De Villiers called up: Western Province centre Jean de Villiers has been called up to the South Africa squad for next month's World Cup in Australia after the withdrawal of Gcobani Bobo.

Bobo was released from the squad on Wednesday after he sustained torn ligaments in his left knee during the Springboks' 45-24 win over Free State in a warm-up match on Tuesday.

De Villiers (22), won his sole Test cap against France in Marseille last year. His debut lasted only seven minutes before he was stretchered off, also with torn knee ligaments, which kept him out for six months.

He has been in outstanding form for Western Province in the first round of the Currie Cup, scoring five tries in six matches.

Metcalfe to sue: The Scottish Rugby Union have expressed their disappointment at Richard Metcalfe's decision to take legal action against the governing body in Scotland.

The Borders player has consulted with Professional Rugby Players' Association over the termination of his contract with the club on the grounds of a long-term knee injury.

The SRU have a clause in professional players' contracts allowing them to release a player from his deal if injury prevents him from playing for six months.

Metcalfe (29), has not featured for The Borders since February and the SRU took the decision to terminate his deal this month.

The lock is poised for legal action, although the SRU has vowed to fight the action "vigorously".

Metcalfe maintains he was asked by the club to undergo an operation and delayed the date of that at the request of Borders head coach Tony Gilbert.

Metcalfe also claimed that, after being discharged from hospital, he received daily physiotherapy for one-and-a-half months by the Borders physiotherapist, but was then informed by the SRU he could no longer be treated at the club or speak to any of the management about the injury.

According to an SRU statement, Metcalfe's treatment "had to be transferred from The Borders to BUPA Murrayfield and the treatment is still ongoing, funded by the BUPA cover enjoyed by Richard in terms of his contract."

Walker available: Scotland's Nikki Walker will be available to play in the World Cup after Jedburgh Sheriff Court agreed to switch the date of his trial to December 12th.

The Borders wing was the surprise inclusion in Ian McGeechan's World Cup squad which was announced earlier this month. But the 21-year-old was due to appear before the court on October 24th on two charges of assault.

Walker was arrested in February after alleged incidents inside and outside a pub in Hawick. However, the date for that appearance was just a day before the crucial World Cup group match against France in Australia and before they face Fiji on November 1st.

But now the court have granted a postponement to allow Walker to play in Australia.

McGeechan insisted earlier this week that the 21-year-old had made sufficient progress to merit his inclusion in the 30-man squad for next month's tournament.

TUQIRI'S CLOSE ESCAPE: Australia World Cup winger Lote Tuqiri survived a close encounter with an angry crocodile during a fishing and sightseeing trip in the Northern Territory this week.

Wallabies communications manager Djuro Sen said the four-metre crocodile had rammed one of the Cup champions' boats.

"One boat pulled over to get some closer photos of the croc and he was spooked by a couple of the flashes. The croc decided to make a run for the second boat and nearly capsized it and Lote Tuqiri nearly had to jump out of its way."

Tuqiri said he was unsure if the incident could be called a near-death experience but added: "It had the blood pumping."