Boks set sights beyond England game

PARIS – South Africa have set their sights beyond Friday’s key World Cup Pool A match with defending champions England and made it clear they want to reach the final at the Stade de France on October 20.

“Our goal is not the England game,” coach Jake White told reporters after his team opened their campaign with a 59-7 demolition of Samoa on Sunday. “Our goal is to be in the final.”The Springboks certainly looked like title contenders against the Samoans, countering the Pacific Islanders’ physical challenge before taking control with an exciting mix of muscle and pace.Canada have defied critics, says coach NANTES – Canada coach Ric Suggitt believes his men have blown away any suggestions of a two-tier World Cup with their display against Wales.The Canucks rocked the Six Nations giants with three unanswered tries for a 17-9 lead before crashing to an agonising 42-17 defeat in their opening game of the tournament here on Sunday.But Suggitt believes their performance against a team ranked five places above them in the world rankings, has sent a clear message to those who want to slash the number of teams at the next World Cup.Canada have opposed plans to reduce the number of nations at the 2011 World Cup to 16 from the current 20 with a ‘second division’ competition to be held the previous year.Rocky counterpunches with three-tries MONTPELLIER – Three-try hero Rocky Elsom had former coach Eddie Jones’ criticisms ringing in his ears as he produced a man-of-the-match performance for the Wallabies against Japan last Saturday.Elsom completed a hat-trick of tries in a 17-minute spell – the quickest hat-trick by a forward in World Cup history – as the two-time champions Australia destroyed Japan 91-3 in Lyon to kick-start their campaign.The backrower’s menacing display equalled Toutai Kefu’s 1999 effort against Romania for the most tries scored by a Wallabies forward in a World Cup match.Japan’s Sasaki strains knee ligaments COLOMIERS – Flanker Takamichi Sasaki, Japan’s captain against Australia on Saturday, will leave the Rugby World Cup after straining his knee ligaments.Taken to hospital after the game, Sasaki’s MRI revealed a grade two MCL strain of his left knee.A replacement has not yet been named.He’s the fourth player from Japan’s original World Cup to be forced out by injury following Mitsugu Yamamoto, Eiji Ando and Daisuke Ohata.Japan lost to Australia 91-3 in its opening Pool A match in Lyon, and meets Fiji tomorrow in Toulouse.World Cup ends for de Villiers JOHANNESBURG – Springbok centre Jean de Villiers’s World Cup nightmare is continuing.The creative midfielder has been ruled out of the tournament in France with a torn bicep muscle, suffered in the 59-7 hammering of Samoa in Paris on Sunday.The 26-year-old De Villiers, who came into the tournament with a rib injury suffered in a warm-up match against Namibia, will return home to undergo surgery.No official replacement has been named for De Villiers, but his number 12 shirt will most likely go to Frans Steyn for the crunch Pool A match against England on Friday.While Waylon Murray accompanied the team on the pre-tournament tour to Ireland and Scotland, veteran Marius Joubert might get an unexpected recall.Nampa-AFP, Reuters, AP and Sapa”Our goal is to be in the final.”The Springboks certainly looked like title contenders against the Samoans, countering the Pacific Islanders’ physical challenge before taking control with an exciting mix of muscle and pace.Canada have defied critics, says coach NANTES – Canada coach Ric Suggitt believes his men have blown away any suggestions of a two-tier World Cup with their display against Wales.The Canucks rocked the Six Nations giants with three unanswered tries for a 17-9 lead before crashing to an agonising 42-17 defeat in their opening game of the tournament here on Sunday.But Suggitt believes their performance against a team ranked five places above them in the world rankings, has sent a clear message to those who want to slash the number of teams at the next World Cup.Canada have opposed plans to reduce the number of nations at the 2011 World Cup to 16 from the current 20 with a ‘second division’ competition to be held the previous year.Rocky counterpunches with three-tries MONTPELLIER – Three-try hero Rocky Elsom had former coach Eddie Jones’ criticisms ringing in his ears as he produced a man-of-the-match performance for the Wallabies against Japan last Saturday.Elsom completed a hat-trick of tries in a 17-minute spell – the quickest hat-trick by a forward in World Cup history – as the two-time champions Australia destroyed Japan 91-3 in Lyon to kick-start their campaign.The backrower’s menacing display equalled Toutai Kefu’s 1999 effort against Romania for the most tries scored by a Wallabies forward in a World Cup match.Japan’s Sasaki strains knee ligaments COLOMIERS – Flanker Takamichi Sasaki, Japan’s captain against Australia on Saturday, will leave the Rugby World Cup after straining his knee ligaments.Taken to hospital after the game, Sasaki’s MRI revealed a grade two MCL strain of his left knee.A replacement has not yet been named.He’s the fourth player from Japan’s original World Cup to be forced out by injury following Mitsugu Yamamoto, Eiji Ando and Daisuke Ohata.Japan lost to Australia 91-3 in its opening Pool A match in Lyon, and meets Fiji tomorrow in Toulouse.World Cup ends for de Villiers JOHANNESBURG – Springbok centre Jean de Villiers’s World Cup nightmare is continuing.The creative midfielder has been ruled out of the tournament in France with a torn bicep muscle, suffered in the 59-7 hammering of Samoa in Paris on Sunday.The 26-year-old De Villiers, who came into the tournament with a rib injury suffered in a warm-up match against Namibia, will return home to undergo surgery.No official replacement has been named for De Villiers, but his number 12 shirt will most likely go to Frans Steyn for the crunch Pool A match against England on Friday.While Waylon Murray accompanied the team on the pre-tournament tour to Ireland and Scotland, veteran Marius Joubert might get an unexpected recall.Nampa-AFP, Reuters, AP and Sapa