Veteran hard man Bakkies Botha will almost certainly miss South Africa’s rugby World Cup opener against Wales on Sunday, with the Springboks further hurt by an injury concern over winger Brian Habana. The 31-year-old Botha has been suffering from a chronic Achilles’ tendon problem that flared up again at training earlier this week. “We’re a little bit worried about Bakkies, he’s our major concern,” assistant coach Dick Muir told reporters. “It’s his Achilles and being a big man he obviously takes a lot of pressure in that area.
There is no easing into the World Cup for England
Tonga captain fit Tonga captain Finau Maka has overcome a troublesome ankle injury and will start against New Zealand in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup on Friday. “Finau did a fitness test this evening, prior to the training, and came through that well and trained with the boys tonight and he will be starting,” Tonga’s technical advisor John McKee told reporters at Eden Park on Thursday. Former Aussie captain says All Blacks player’s too old New Zealand’s hopes of ending their agonising 24-year wait for a second World Cup title rest on ageing shoulders that may have had one too many years in the trenches, according to former Australia captain Andrew Slack. Slack, who played 39 tests and won 14 out of 19 as skipper, cannot help but see parallels in Richie McCaw’s All Blacks with the much-fancied Wallabies side he led as a 31-year-old to a disappointing semi-final exit at the inaugural World Cup in 1987. England have tough first match There is no easing into the World Cup for England and Argentina on Saturday as they hit the ground running in a blockbuster that should decide who tops pool B and likely secures the path of least resistance to the final. Though Georgia, Romania and particularly Scotland will hope to have a say, the runners-up and third-placed finishers from 2007 are favourites to progress.
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