Irish walking wounded step it out

World Cup countdown:As the days count down to Ireland's World Cup opener, against Namibia next week, coach Eddie O'Sullivan's group of injured players continued to make progress yesterday.

Winger and centre Shane Horgan returned to light training and had an upper-body fitness session at the squad training ground in St Gerard's School, Bray.

Horgan damaged his knee two weeks ago while warming up for Ireland's game against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Centre and team captain Brian O'Driscoll, recovering from a fractured sinus, also trained yesterday, though he avoided contact. His main concern is to protect the damaged area around cheek and nose.

The Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris and the Munster openside flanker David Wallace, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, also took a full part in the session.

Two others, however, remained among the walking wounded as the squad trained for the final time in their Co Wicklow base.

Ulster's Paddy Wallace took part in some of the full session but remained out of direct contact as he recovers from a bruised hip, while the Leinster winger Denis Hickie did not train at all as he nursed a knee slightly bruised in Wednesday's session.

The squad finally broke camp yesterday before they reassemble on Sunday evening for the start of the World Cup campaign proper.

The squad will be in the official RWC camp as of next Monday, before departing for Bordeaux on Wednesday afternoon, where they are based for the four pool games.

Meanwhile, the Perpignan centre Federico Martin Aramburu has been called up to replace winger Jose Nunez Piossek, who has a thigh injury, in Argentina's World Cup squad.

The change was the second in the backs since the Pumas' 27-20 defeat by Wales in a warm-up match on August 18th.

Centre Martin Gaitan was ruled out after suffering a heart scare following the Wales match and was replaced by wing Hernan Senillosa.

Adding to their injury problems, number eight Gonzalo Longo has a minor leg-muscle problem that will keep him out of their opening match, the tournament opener, against France next Friday.

Coach Marcelo Loffreda hopes to have the veteran of two previous World Cups fully fit for their key group match against Ireland on September 30th.

The sale of tickets on Wednesday for the semi-finals and final of the World Cup sparked an unprecedented response from the public.

By 10am, when the tickets became available, more than two-million people had visited the official website. The 15,000 tickets - priced at between €101 and €498 for the final and €95 and €400 for the semi-finals - were bought in a few hours.