Lima ban appeal flung out

PARIS – Brian Lima’s appeal against a three-week ban at the Rugby World Cup was rejected yesterday, effectively bringing down the curtain on his playing days.

The 35-year-old Samoan hardman had already said that he would hang up his boots after becoming the only man to play in five World Cups. The three-week suspension was imposed on him for a dangerous tackle on England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson.Samoa are already eliminated from the tournament following losses to South Africa, Tonga and England.Kirwan optimistic for Japanese rugby future BORDEAUX – Coach John Kirwan predicted a bright future for Japanese rugby after his team produced a memorable last-gasp fightback to earn a World Cup draw against Canada.Koji Taira scored a try deep into over-time and Shotar Onishi held his nerve to slot over the conversion from a tight angle to earn a 12-12 draw against the North Americans.That result followed a narrow 35-31 defeat to Fiji and thrashings at the hands of Australia (91-3) and Wales (72-18), but Kirwan still felt the tournament has been a success.”Our performance (against Canada) was not great but in the courage stakes it was one of our best performances,” said the former World Cup winner with New Zealand in 1987.Corry says England have failed VERSAILLES – England stand-in captain Martin Corry admits the team haven’t lived up to the billing of world champions as they head into their quarter-final playoff with Tonga.Whichever side wins Friday’s clash at Paris’s Parc des Princes will join Pool A table-toppers South Africa in the last eight of the 2007 World Cup with the loser going home.That England find themselves facing the prospect of a first round exit is a reflection of their form after they won the World Cup four years ago.Since that November night in Sydney when now retired captain Martin Johnson lifted the Webb Ellis trophy, England have won just 18 out of their subsequent 43 Tests.I must pull up my socks: Jauzion PARIS – France’s two time international rugby player of the year Yannick Jauzion has admitted his form at the World Cup had been disappointing and he had to improve if he was to regain his place in the starting line-up.The 29-year-old 47-times capped Toulouse centre looked to be a certain star at this edition but a poor performance along with veteran winger Christophe Dominici – highlighted by coach Bernard Laporte – in the shock opening match defeat by Argentina has seen him sidelined since, save for two appearances as a replacement against Namibia and Ireland.Nampa-Reuters and AFPThe three-week suspension was imposed on him for a dangerous tackle on England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson.Samoa are already eliminated from the tournament following losses to South Africa, Tonga and England.Kirwan optimistic for Japanese rugby future BORDEAUX – Coach John Kirwan predicted a bright future for Japanese rugby after his team produced a memorable last-gasp fightback to earn a World Cup draw against Canada.Koji Taira scored a try deep into over-time and Shotar Onishi held his nerve to slot over the conversion from a tight angle to earn a 12-12 draw against the North Americans.That result followed a narrow 35-31 defeat to Fiji and thrashings at the hands of Australia (91-3) and Wales (72-18), but Kirwan still felt the tournament has been a success.”Our performance (against Canada) was not great but in the courage stakes it was one of our best performances,” said the former World Cup winner with New Zealand in 1987.Corry says England have failed VERSAILLES – England stand-in captain Martin Corry admits the team haven’t lived up to the billing of world champions as they head into their quarter-final playoff with Tonga.Whichever side wins Friday’s clash at Paris’s Parc des Princes will join Pool A table-toppers South Africa in the last eight of the 2007 World Cup with the loser going home.That England find themselves facing the prospect of a first round exit is a reflection of their form after they won the World Cup four years ago.Since that November night in Sydney when now retired captain Martin Johnson lifted the Webb Ellis trophy, England have won just 18 out of their subsequent 43 Tests.I must pull up my socks: Jauzion PARIS – France’s two time international rugby player of the year Yannick Jauzion has admitted his form at the World Cup had been disappointing and he had to improve if he was to regain his place in the starting line-up.The 29-year-old 47-times capped Toulouse centre looked to be a certain star at this edition but a poor performance along with veteran winger Christophe Dominici – highlighted by coach Bernard Laporte – in the shock opening match defeat by Argentina has seen him sidelined since, save for two appearances as a replacement against Namibia and Ireland.Nampa-Reuters and AFP

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