Rugby World Cup round-up:Samoa sent a rugby World Cup warning to their Pool D rivals this morning as the overwhelmed Namibia 49-12 with three ties from powerhouse winger Alesana Tuilagi.
The Pacific Islanders face Wales in Hamilton in four days time in the "group of death," and while the impressive win will give them a boost they will be holding their breath that key players can shrug off injury concerns.
Samoan coach Titimaea Tafua was pleased with the way his team played in their World Cup opener but was sweating on the fitness of outhalf Tusi Pisi and flanker Taiasina Tuifua. Both players exited the game in the first half at Rotorua's International Stadium.
"That's a worry for us. The medical people are still working on it - we'll know more tonight," he said. "I haven't had time to talk to the medical staff yet, but I do hope it's not serious."
Wales have lost twice to Samoa at previous World Cups (1991, 1999) and Sunday's match between them could decide which teams progress from the tournament's toughest pool. Reigning world champions South Africa, Wales, Samoa, Fiji and Namibia are battling for two berths in the quarter-finals.
One of highlights for Samoa was hulking wing Alesana Tuilagi, who scored a hat-trick of tries and came through the game unscathed. Tuilagi was one of the standout players in Samoa's upset 32-23 victory over Australia in a World Cup warm-up match in July.
Canada 25 Tonga 20
Phil Mackenzie scored a try seven minutes from time to give Canada a thrilling victory over Tonga at the Northland Events Centre. The bleach-blond winger picked up the ball at the foot of a ruck to wriggle between two tacklers and over the line to give Canada only their fifth ever World Cup win and keep alive their modest hopes of progressing from Pool A.
Tonga, who had gambled on a radical overhaul of the team that impressed but lost the tournament opener 41-10 to the All Blacks last weekend, were left stunned after looking set for victory with the stiff breeze behind them in the second half.
Lock Jebb Sinclair and number eight Aaron Carpenter also scored tries for Canada, who led 10-0 just before halftime but had seen the Tongans overhaul them in front of a passionate full house of 20,000.
"That was awesome," Canada captain Pat Riordan said afterwards. "I'm so proud of the boys and the way they played and guts they showed. We knew it was a pretty strong wind there in the second half.
"At halftime, we knew we had achieved a couple of things and knew we had to change a couple of things but also knew that it was in our control and up to us to change it and we did. I hope it just shows what the Canadian boys can do."
Carter not risked against Japan
Dan Carter has been withdrawn from the New Zealand team to play Japan on Friday after failing to recover from a lower back injury.
Carter suffered a stiff back in New Zealand’s opening Rugby World Cup victory over Tonga and the All Blacks have decided not to risk him ahead of their crunch Pool A showdown with France.
All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said: “The key thing is that Daniel had been recovering well from a stiff lower back.
“However, he pulled up sore at an indoor training session this morning so we have made the decision not to risk him for the Japan match and we will aim to have him back fully training next week in preparation for the France Test.”
Carter has been replaced in the starting line-up by Colin Slade, with Jimmy Cowan promoted to the bench and Piri Weepu providing cover at outhalf.
Skrela out of tournament
France outhalf David Skrela has joined England prop Andrew Sheridan in being ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with a shoulder injury.
Skrela suffered the injury 11 minutes after coming on as a second-half replacement for Francois Trinh-Duc in France’s opening victory over Japan.
France coach Marc Lievremont has called the uncapped Toulouse outhalf Jean-Marc Doussain into the squad as Skrela’s replacement.
