Gatland has no fears for the ‘Pool of Death’

Wales coach Gatland is relishing a prospect of tackling world champions South Africa, Samoa and Fiji in New Zealand, starting against the Springboks on September 11.

Some might question Gatland’s optimism given that Wales have only beaten the Springboks once from 25 attempts and previously suffered World Cup humiliation against Samoa and Fiji.

But after naming a World Cup squad that will be led by 22-year-old Cardiff Blues flanker Sam Warburton and contains just one uncapped player – hooker Ken Owens – Gatland said: “We are in great shape physically and shouldn’t go there with any fears.”

Wales squad: L Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), G North (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys), L Halfpenny (Cardiff), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff), S Williams (Scarlets), J Hook (Perpignan), S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne), T Knoyle (Scarlets), L Williams (Cardiff), P James (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff), A Jones (Ospreys), C Mitchell (Exeter), R Bevington (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), L Burns (Newport Gwent), K Owens (Scarlets), B Davies (Cardiff), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent), R Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent), J Turnbull (Scarlets), S Warburton (Cardiff, capt), M Williams (Cardiff), T Faletau (Newport Gwent).

Paterson gets the call to step into record books

SCOTLAND head coach Andy Robinson has told his 30-man Rugby World Cup squad to stake their claim for a place in his starting XV.

Robinson named Alastair Kellock as captain while Johnnie Beattie was the most experienced of the seven omitted players.

British and Irish Lions Chris Cusiter and Euan Murray proved their fitness, while Chris Paterson is set to become the first Scot to play in four World Cups following appearances in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

Scotland fly to Australia for a further training camp before travelling to Invercargill, where on September 10 they meet Romania in their first Pool B contest, with further fixtures against Georgia, Argentina and England to follow.

Scotland squad: J Ansbro (London Irish), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Glasgow), S Danielli (Ulster), N De Luca (Edinburgh), M Evans (Castres), R Jackson (Glasgow), R Lamont (Toulon), S Lamont (Scarlets), R Lawson (Gloucester), G Morrison (Glasgow), D Parks (Cardiff), C Paterson (Edinburgh), J Barclay (Glasgow), K Brown (Saracens), G Cross (Edinburgh), A Dickinson (Sale), R Ford (Edinburgh), R Gray, D Hall (both Glasgow), J Hamilton (Gloucester), N Hines (Clermont Auvergne), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), A Kellock (capt, Glasgow), S Lawson (Gloucester), M Low (Glasgow), E Murray (Newcastle), R Rennie (Edinburgh), A Strokosch (Gloucester), R Vernon (Sale).

Murphy in a dramatic return to the Irish fold

GEORDAN Murphy was named in Ireland’s World Cup squad just 48 hours after being resigned to missing out.

Murphy’s selection for the second string against Connacht last Thursday appeared to terminate his hopes of travelling to New Zealand, signalling the end of his Test career in the process.

But the foot injury sustained by Felix Jones during Saturday’s defeat by France cleared the path for a dramatic return to favour.

With coach Declan Kidney refusing to trust utility players Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald to supply cover for first-choice full-back Rob Kearney, he has turned to the 33-year-old Leicester captain. Four years ago Murphy made one appearance at the World Cup in France, while in 2003 he missed out after breaking his leg on the eve of the squad announcement.

Ireland squad: R Best (Ulster), I Boss (Leinster), T Bowe (Ospreys), T Buckley (Sale), T Court (Ulster), S Cronin (Leinster), L Cullen (Leinster), G D’Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), J Flannery (Munster), C Healy (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster), R Kearney (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), F McFadden (Leinster), G Murphy (Leicester), C Murray (Munster), S O’Brien (Leinster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), P O’Connell (Munster), B O’Driscoll (Leinster, capt), R O’Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster), M Ross (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), J Sexton (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster).