Injury Time

Illness and injury took centre stage yesterday with Ireland prop Simon Best forced to pull out of the tournament and Australia first five-eighths Stephen Larkham's international career facing a premature end.

Best spent the night in hospital after suffering a loss of sensation down his right side, headache and loss of speech while strolling around Bordeaux city centre.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said that doctors had ruled out any neurological problems as the cause of his symptoms.

Australia are concerned that Larkham's international career could be ended because of an infection following knee surgery.

The 33-year-old, who planned to retire from international rugby after the World Cup, is in danger of making an earlier exit.