Rugby World Cup: Final Pool Stage Injury Report

After a thrilling week of decisive pool matchups, the whole of the rugby world will now have their attention on the crucial quarterfinals. However, yet more of our game’s greatest stars will not be gracing that stage, with the injury toll growing this week as well. The grueling matches certainly took their toll, as stars went down in these crucial matchups.

More bad news for Wales fans as it was confirmed that Liam Williams’s tournament is over. The versatile Welsh outside back has suffered a foot injury, a real shame after he raced back to make the tournament, and then came back from a concussion a week ago. Wales have yet to name a replacement for Williams, as their stocks of outside backs grow thinner and thinner.

The All Blacks have lost veteran loosehead prop Tony Woodcock, and the 118 cap legend will never again be able to don the All Blacks jersey in a test. It’s a huge loss to the All Blacks and to the rugby community as a whole, something of a theme this week. We at RBP would like to wish Woodcock all the best in his retirement.

JP Pietersen has recovered from his knee injury to play against Wales, while Victor Matfield must wait another week. Lood De Jager will continue to play in his place.

For Scotland, there are few injury worries, with Stuart Hogg, Matt Scott, Mark Bennett, and Finn Russell all looking to be back for their match against the Wallabies, but Scotland will be without two of their key players. Hooker Ross Ford and second row Jonny Gray will both be unavailable for the remainder of the tournament, after being cited for their dangerous tackle against Samoa. Ford has been a vital cog of the front row for the Scots, and Gray has been one of their biggest stars in the pack, as well as one of the few bright spots from their poor 6 Nations.

Australia are fretting over David Pocock’s calf injury, although it has been confirmed that their has been no tear. Wallaby fans will want to see the dominant flanker back at his best for their quarterfinal against Scotland. Israel Folau’s nagging ankle injury remains a concern, and it has kept him from being anywhere near his best. He has said that he expects to be back at 100% before the quarterfinal, and hopefully this will see him return to form. Matt Giteau should be good to go for his 100th cap, and Rob Horne is working his way back into the fold after his shoulder problem.

It’s a sad day for Ireland fans, and indeed all rugby fans, as Paul O’Connell’s torn hamstring has ended his tournament and his illustrious international career. It marks the end of Ireland’s “golden generation” of the 2009 grand slam. O’Gara, Ferris, Flannery, Hayes, O’Driscoll, and now finally O’Connell are all gone. Jamie Heaslip has taken over the captaincy, a role where he appeared very comfortable against France, but O’Connell is a huge loss to Ireland.

Peter O’Mahony will join O’Connell on the trip home, as his injury ends his World Cup as well. O’Mahony has been in stellar form throughout the tournament, and his absence will hurt Ireland badly. Rhys Ruddock, who was superb against Australia and South Africa in the 2014 Guinness Series, will replace O’Mahony, while Mike McCarthy fills in for O’Connell.
Jonathan Sexton will be able to return at some stage, but he will be in a race to return for Ireland’s quarterfinal against the Pumas. Should he not make it, Ireland will be confident in their replacement after Ian Madigan’s mature display against France, but there is no doubt about who Ireland fans would prefer to see starting at 10.

We were treated to a phenomenal week of test matches, but it was at a great cost. We must now say goodbye to two of the icons of our game, with 226 caps between them. To Tony and Paul, I think we are not alone in saying, thank you for your contribution to our game, and we wish you all the best, Tony in retirement, and Paul at Toulon.