Other news from the world of rugby

Mounga on the mend

USA number eight Fifita Mounga has feeling in his fingers and toes after being stretchered off during his side's match with Samoa. Mounga was taken to hospital on Wednesday night after suffering an injury in the second half of his side's 25-21 defeat in St Etienne. He has undergone tests for spinal injuries and received an MRI scan.

Coach Peter Thornburn spent the morning with him in hospital and said the prognosis was good. "He is comfortable, he has feeling in his extremities, but there is doubt about when he can be moved," said Thornburn.

It is likely Mounga will not travel with the team to Montepellier for their match against South Africa on Sunday. His return to the USA with the team on Sunday is also in doubt and he will instead be cared for by Dr Bruce Miller, the team's doctor, in St Etienne.

The beer statistics

French stadiums have been filled an average 94 per cent for World Cup matches and 2.4 million tickets have been sold. Even the Canada-Japan game on Tuesday was packed. Perhaps the most telling statistic is that projected beer sales for the tournament will top 28 million litres - only two million less than was sold at the soccer World Cup in Germany last year.

However, it is difficult to know a World Cup is happening in Bordeaux. Some windows have rugby balls and match schedules and there is evidently the hope of attracting Irish rugby punters with signs outside cafes bearing the alluring logo "Live Guinness". But when the Bordeaux soccer team play (second in the league table), the bars fill up. Rugby may be touching the Fifa World Cup with beer sales but for local interest it's the round ball.

An unlikely ally

There is still a believer in the Ireland team. He comes from Argentina. Manuel Contepomi, twin brother of Felipe, has been saying Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll are two of the three best centres in the world. "They are as good as the French. Jauzion, O'Driscoll and D'Arcy, they are probably the best centres in the world," he said. "To play against them I have to analyse their virtues and abilities."

It might be easier to walk down the corridor and ask his brother, who throws the ball to them every week with Leinster.

Quotes of the day

"The thoughts of the management and the players are obviously with Simon. He is a hugely popular member of the team and a key member of the squad and we are awfully shocked to get the news."

- Eddie O'Sullivan on the news that Irish prop Simon Best was rushed to hospital in Bordeaux.

"I remember I played them many times and every time something made me faster."

- Artist and former French flanker Jean-Pierre Rives remembers the magic of playing against the All Blacks.

Kirwan in demand

Japan's media called for the country's coach John Kirwan to be given the job for life yesterday. Japan bowed out of the tournament with their pride intact after a dramatic 12-12 draw with Canada in their final Pool B game.

Under a picture of Koji Taira's stoppage-time try in Bordeaux, the Nikkan Sports daily ran the headline: "Eternal power for Kirwan!" Although trounced 91-3 by Australia and 72-18 by Wales, Kirwan's side were unlucky not to beat Fiji, losing 35-31 to the Pacific Islanders in a see-saw battle."Another four years please, Kirwan!" the Sports Nippon demanded. "Unless Kirwan doesn't want to (stay) we're not going to let him go," Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) executive director Noboru Mashimo was quoted as saying.

The Sankei Sports also threw its weight behind Kirwan under the banner: "Carry on Kirwan!"

The 42-year-old is under contract with the JRFU until December 2008 but now looks likely to be offered a lucrative extension.