Canterbury lock Norm Maxwell will return to New Zealand after the All Blacks' injury worries eased, the team management said yesterday.

Maxwell, who was not officially part of the All Blacks' squad, had been flown to the team's base in Melbourne after vice-captain Tana Umaga was injured in their Pool D win against Italy on October 11th.

While the veteran of 32 Tests had been brought over after Umaga ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament, in effect Maxwell was cover for injured lock Ali Williams, who had to pass a fitness test on his broken foot before the squad departed for the tournament. Williams was named in the side on Monday to play Tonga in Brisbane on Friday. Umaga has resumed jogging and Mitchell speculated he may even be available for selection for the quarter-finals.

Leslie awaits fate

Scotland flanker Martin Leslie must wait 24 hours for the verdict of the Rugby World Cup judiciary after being cited for foul play. The New Zealand-born 31-year-old will face a disciplinary panel today after being pulled up by citing commissioner John West for an alleged kneeing incident on an unnamed USA player. The Edinburgh back rower came on as a second-half substitute in the 39-15 Pool B victory over America in Brisbane after Jon Petrie was injured.

Leslie's alleged indiscretion is believed to have happened shortly after his introduction in the 53rd minute. Scotland are not, as yet, making any comment on the issue as they are waiting to review a video tape of the match to discover the identity of the USA player involved.

Drop Charvis, says Henry

Former Wales coach Graham Henry has advised his successor Steve Hansen to drop captain Colin Charvis, the BBC reported yesterday. "There should be no place for Charvis with the captaincy passing to Martyn Williams," Henry said after watching Wales struggle to beat Tonga 27-20 in their Pool D match on Sunday. Wales meet Italy in Canberra on Saturday in a match which should decide who qualifies for the quarter-finals. "I think selection of the team is crucial," Henry said. "If the best team plays against Italy then they can win."

Henry and Charvis had an uneasy relationship when the former was in charge of Wales and on one occasion he dropped Charvis after the player opted to go on a family holiday rather than attend a training session.

Bondi Beach worries Laporte

France coach Bernard Laporte has two minor worries heading into the Pool B decider against Scotland on Saturday - the attractions of Bondi Beach and the knee of utility back Xavier Garbajosa. "Bondi Beach is a very busy and very pretty place. The beach is just round the corner," Laporte said yesterday. "So we decided to call the players in for a meeting yesterday evening to remind them that they had to keep concentrated and that Bondi Beach was an easy place to dissipate one's energies."

Laporte also said the recurrent knee injury that has been affecting Garbajosa since a warm-up match against the French Barbarians on September 20th was a worry.

Fiji recall for Serevi

Fiji coach Mac McCallion has recalled veteran sevens exponent Waisale Serevi for tomorrow's Pool B clash with Japan in Townsville. Serevi replaced Nicky Little, Fiji's leading points scorer in Tests, in one of seven changes to the side which beat the USA. McCallion brings in scrumhalf Sami Rabaka, loosehead prop Isaia Rasila, and gives locks Emori Katalau and Kele Leawere their first starts of the tournament while Aisea Tuilevu is switched to the wing to accommodate Epeli Ruivadra in the centre.

Springboks talking tough

South Africa coach Rudolf Straueli believes his side's improvement since finishing bottom of the Tri-Nations championship means they could still win the World Cup. The 1995 champions face a treacherous path to the final, including a probable quarter-final against New Zealand.

"We've gone ahead in leaps and bounds since the Tri-Nations and the next two or three weeks will make us a better team still," said Straueli. "We fancy our chances against anyone." Straeuli said the Springboks planned to adjust their style of play, reverting to a traditional South Africa game plan built on physical power and intimidation.