The Australia fullback Julian Huxley has been ruled out of the Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks on Saturday after picking up an injury when he was playfully tackled by a team-mate at a party.
The 27-year-old has played in all Australia's six Tests this year in the absence of the injured Chris Latham, but will miss the Bledisloe Cup crunch match at Eden Park, Auckland, after the high jinks at the function in Canberra last Saturday.
Huxley said he was tackled as a prank by his ACT Brumbies team-mate Gene Fairbanks following an awards night for his Super 14 club, and suffered a thigh injury.
"We were at a private function . . . and it was just a joke gone wrong and it turned out to be quite embarrassing," Huxley said yesterday.
Huxley said he bore Fairbanks no hard feelings and remained confident of making Australia's World Cup squad.
Wallabies coach John Connolly, who had earlier described the incident as "tomfoolery", announces his squad for the clash today and is set to replace Huxley with winger Adam Ashley-Cooper or revert to the recovering Latham.
Latham played a club match in Brisbane at the weekend for his first full contest since undergoing knee reconstruction surgery following a pre-season training incident.
Huxley's calamity means the 72-Test veteran could return to the starting XV sooner than expected.
"I'm now confident that I could go down to the Wallaby camp on Monday and fit into training," Latham said.
"I know my body is right, I know the knee will withstand everything that it needs to withstand with a Wallaby training run, so we're just going to go from there. Like always, now it's not up to me."
Meanwhile regular captain Alifereti Doviverata and winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca have been left out of Fiji's preliminary World Cup squad. Doviverata captained Fiji at the 2003 World Cup and during this year's Pacific Nations Cup but was overlooked for the 30-man squad.
The France-based winger Caucaunibuca, Fiji's best-known player, thrilled crowds at the last World Cup with his destructive running but has made only a handful of appearances for his country since.
In 2005, he was banned from representing Fiji for a year after failing to show up at the World Cup qualifiers, but made a return appearance when his suspension was finished.
Caucaunibuca is currently serving a three-month ban after testing positive for marijuana, but his sentence had been backdated to allow him to be available for Fiji's second World Cup match.
And the veteran Brian Lima is set to play in his fifth World Cup after being included in Samoa's 30-man squad.
The 35-year-old centre made his RWC debut in England in 1991 and has played in every tournament since, scoring 10 tries in 16 appearances for the Pacific island.
WORLD CUP SQUADS
SAMOA: Forwards -Justin Va'a, Census Johnston, Kasiano Lealamanua, Mahonri Schwalger, Donald Kerslake, Muliufi Salanoa, Silao Vaisola Sefo, Filipo Levi, Kane Thompson, Daniel Leo, Iosefa Tekori, Ulia Ulia, Henry Tuilagi, Siuleo Lafaiali'i, Justin Purdie, Semo Sititi (captain). Backs -Steve So'oialo, Junior Poluleuligaga, Loki Crichton, Lolo Lui, Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, Jerry Meafou, Anitelea Tuilagi, David Lemi, Seilala Maposua, Elvis Seveali'i, Brian Pala Lima, Lome Fa'atau, Alesana Tuilagi, Gavin Willams.
FIJI: Forwards -Graham Dewes, Alefoso Yalayalatabua, Sunia Koto, Vereniki Sauturaga, Jone Railomo, Henry Qiodravu, Bill Gadolo, Iferemi Rawaqa, Kele Leawere, Isoa Domolailai, Wame Lewaravu, Jone Qovu, Netani Talei, Semisi Naevo, Sisa Koyamaibole, Aca Ratuva, Akapusi Qera. Backs -Jone Dunivucu, Mosese Rauluni, Nicky Little, Waisea Luveniyali, Seremaia Bai, Seru Rabeni, Kameli Ratuvou, Maleli Kunavore, Vilimone Delasau, Isoa Neivua, Filimone Bolavucu, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Norman Ligairi.
