World CupDigest

Centre Tony Marsh, who underwent chemotherapy this year for testicular cancer, was named yesterday in the France team for their…

Centre Tony Marsh, who underwent chemotherapy this year for testicular cancer, was named yesterday in the France team for their World Cup opener against Fiji on Saturday.

The New Zealand-born player won the last of his 11 caps in June last year against Australia in Sydney.

He returned to action on September 20th when he played for 70 minutes for the French Barbarians against a President's XV featuring the majority of the French World Cup squad.

"We are delighted that Tony is back", said team manager Jo Maso. "We have always said that we would play him again as soon as he had fully recovered. He proved in training that he had recovered and we want to give him as much playing time as possible.

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Marsh said he was confident about his physical form but lacked match practice.

FRANCE (v Fiji): N Brusque; A Rougerie, T Marsh, Y Jauzion, C Dominici; F Michalak, F Galthie (captain); J-J Crenca, R Ibanez, J-B Poux, F Pelous, J Thion, S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: Y Bru, O Milloud, O Brouzet, C Labit, G Merceron, D Traille, P Elhorga.

Williams is out

New Zealand coach John Mitchell yesterday announced only two enforced changes to the side which beat Australia and claimed the Bledisloe Cup in August for the game against Italy in Melbourne. Lock Ali Williams is out with a fractured foot, while Aaron Mauger is sidelined with a groin strain.

As a result, former rugby league star Brad Thorn will start alongside Chris Jack in the second row and his Canterbury team-mate Daniel Carter will start at inside centre.

Mitchell refuted suggestions it was the All Black "A-team" and revealed he plans to use all 30 members of the squad during the pool matches.

NEW ZEALAND (v Italy): M Muliaina; D Howlett, T Umaga, D Carter, K Rokocoko; C Spencer, J Marshall; D Hewett, K Mealamu, G Somerville, B Thorn, C Jack, R Thorne (captain), R McCaw, J Collins. Replacements: M Hammett, K Meeuws, R So'oialo, M Holah, S Devine, M Nonu, L MacDonald.

New Zealand seven

If the World Cup were decided by coaches, New Zealand would already be well on the way to winning the Webb Ellis Cup.

Of the 20 nations competing seven are coached by native New Zealanders. All three of the South Pacific nations have New Zealand trainers. Former New Zealand Maori players Jim Love and Mac McCallion coach Tonga and Fiji respectively, while John Boe is in charge of the hard-hitting men from Samoa.

All Blacks winger John Kirwan is now guiding Italy, Steve Hansen is in charge of Wales whileNamibia coach David Waterston rounds out the list of globe-trotting New Zealand coaches.

IRB to help minnows

The International Rugby Board have pledged to set up a working party to try to find a solution to the "unacceptable" loss of key players by some of the emerging nations.

South Sea Island trio Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have all been hit by the withdrawal of vital members of their squad after deciding they could not afford to abandon lucrative domestic contracts for the two-month duration of the World Cup. Though officials of all three countries have expressed their frustration at the situation, the IRB has been powerless to act because none of them will register a formal complaint for fear of jeopardising the players' chances of gaining employment elsewhere.

However, IRB chairman Syd Millar has vowed to investigate every possible avenue to ensure there is no repeat of the situation when France host the next World Cup in 2007.

Argentina's bid fails

As they prepare to face Australia in the opening game, Argentina have learned their bid to break into the Tri Nations tournament is doomed for at least two years.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neil admitted a proposal had been put forward by the Pumas requesting admittance into the southern hemisphere's key annual international competition.

But he claimed such a move could not even be considered until after 2005 when the current broadcasting deal comes to an end.

In Brief . . .

England suffered the first hitch of their World Cup campaign yesterday when Matt Dawson and Iain Balshaw sat out training. Scrumhalf Dawson is set to start against opponents Georgia on Sunday, while Balshaw finds himself on the bench . . . The International Rugby Players Association yesterday announced that All Black superstar Jonah Lomu will be honoured with the Investec Special Merit Award at the IRPA Awards Dinner at Sydney's Westin Hotel on November 18th . . . Fiji front row Isaia Rasila will miss his team's opening World Cup match against France on Saturday after the sudden death of his mother.

URUGUAY: J Pastore; A Cardoso, D Aguirre (captain), M Mendaro, E Ibarra; S Aguirre, E Caffera; R Sanchez, D Lamelas, P Lemoine, J Alzueta, JC Bado, N Brignoni, M Gutierrez, Rodrigo Capo. Replacements: E Berruti, J Perez, G Storace, N Grille, H Ponte, B Amarillo, JR Menchaca.