Clear victory for Aussies comes at a cost

Australia ran riot with a resounding 67-5 win over the United States yesterday but at the cost of a raft of injuries which cast further doubt over their World Cup hopes.

Rob Horne broke a cheekbone, Pat McCabe dislocated his shoulder and Anthony Fainga’a was knocked cold by a knee to the head. Wycliff Palu suffered a hamstring problem and Kurtley Beale was an early withdrawal after “tightening up”.

Coach Robbie Deans said he was considering calling up replacements after the savage injury toll, which comes just a week after defeat to Ireland complicated the team’s progress through the knock-out stages.

“It’s pretty extensive,” Deans said of the injury count.

“It’s part of the game. Obviously it would be better to avoid them but that’s how it happens.”

It was an unfortunate footnote to Australia’s 11-try work-out, against a solitary score for the valiant Americans, which got them firmly back to winning ways.

“We spoke about being a little bit smarter with our decision-making,” said captain Will Genia.

“The scoreline was very flattering but the best thing about the performance was the way we went about it and our decision-making.”

The result gave Australia the temporary lead in Pool C with just one game to play, although Ireland will overtake them if they beat Russia in Rotorua tomorrow.

In New Zealand, many of the minnow nations have been angered at scheduling for the World Cup, which gives stronger teams longer breaks between games to maximise weekend TV audiences.

And Scotland’s team doctor James Robson voiced concern that some sides did not have enough time to recover, urging the tournament’s organisers to rejig the format for future editions.

“I think to turnaround in international Test rugby now, within four days is asking a great deal of the players that we are trying to care for,” Robson said.

“The minimum would have to be five days given that I think you need four days to recover. But ideally you’d want between six and eight.”

Meanwhile, British royal heir Zara Phillips joined her newly-wed husband Mike Tindall at the England base in Dunedin, as the team struggled to bury media interest after footage showed him being kissed by a blonde woman at a bar.

And New Zealand captain Richie McCaw reflected on a 99-Test career that will make him the first man to play 100 times for the All Blacks when he takes the field against France today.

“Every time I go out on the field I pinch myself and make sure how lucky I am to be putting on a black jersey and I always take a moment to do that,” he said.

Pool C: Australia (2-0-1) 10; Ireland (2-0-0) 8; Italy (1-0-1) 5; USA (1-0-2) 4; Russia (0-0-2) 1.

Playing today: N. Zealand vs France; England vs Romania;