SOUTH Africa loose forward Juan Smith has ruled himself out of the World Cup because of an Achilles problem.
Smith suffered the injury playing for the Cheetahs in February, and informed Springboks coach Peter de Villiers he was not fit enough for consideration.
De Villiers said: “Juan had been in a race against time to be fit and we were keen to give him every opportunity to prove himself available.
“He is understandably very disappointed – as are we – but he has made the right decision. A fully-fit Juan Smith would have been an enormous asset to our campaign and this is a major disappointment.”
WALEScaptain Ryan Jones has been ruled out of their final World Cup warm-up match against Argentina tomorrow with a calf injury.
Jones is replaced at number eight by Sale Sharks forward Andy Powell with Jonathan Thomas added to the bench.
Flanker Martyn Williams takes over the captaincy and will win his 99th cap.
NEWZealand: coach Graham Henry remained true to his word to give as many players as possible a chance to press for inclusion in his World Cup squad when he named the All Blacks side yesterday for their Tri-Nations Test against South Africa tomorrow.
Fullback Israel Dagg and utility back Isaia Toeava will both start against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth in perhaps their last chance to impress Henry at Test level after recovering from long-term leg injuries.
Outhalf Colin Slade will also start the match to press his claim as Dan Carter’s rightful understudy in his fifth Test, with regular scrumhalf Piri Weepu named as his replacement.
Loosehead prop Tony Woodcock also returns after a long-term foot injury, while fellow frontrower John Afoa has recovered from a fractured eye socket.
They join stand-in captain Keven Mealamu in an all-Auckland Blues frontrow. Henry elected to rest regular captain Richie McCaw and outhalf Carter.
ALL BLACKS TEAM: Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan; Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain), Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Jarrad Hoeata, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Piri Weepu, Cory Jane.
ITALYcoach Nick Mallett has made 11 changes to his starting line-up for tomorrow's World Cup warm-up match against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Only captain Sergio Parisse, Tommaso Benvenuti, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Andrea Lo Cicero have retained their places after the Azzurri were given a major scare by Japan last weekend before claiming a 31-24 win in Cesena.
ITALY TEAM: A Masi; T Benvenuti, G Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco; L Orquera, F Semenzato; A Lo Cicero, L Ghiraldini, M Castrogiovanni, CA Del Fava, C Van Zyl, P Derbyshire, R Barbieri, S Parisse ( capt). Replacements: T D'Apice, L Cittadini, M Bortolami, A Zanni, P Canavosio, R Bocchino, M Pratichetti.
