Here are your Rugby World Cup evening headlines on Tuesday, October 29.
England start to plan victory parade
England will be given a victory parade in London next week if they win the Rugby World Cup.
The Times reporttalks have taken place between the London Mayor’s office and the RFU, with Tuesday the most likely day.
The open-topped bus parade would probably go through central London and finish in Trafalgar Square, as it did when England won the World Cup in 2003.
A source close to Mayor Sadiq Khan, told the Times: “We have held preliminary discussions with the RFU – they are seriously considering having an event if England do win the Rugby World Cup and that is something the Mayor would strongly support. ”
Around 750, 000 fans turned out for the event in 2003
Liam Williams back home and under
Wales star Liam Williams is back on UK soil and hasheaded straight for hospital.
The full-back missed Sunday’s semi-final w ith an ankle injury he suffered in training after an accidental collision with a team-mate.
He left the Wales camp on Monday after watching Sunday’s defeat to South Africa and has today posted a picture on Instagram from a hospital bed at the Forticus clinic in central London. It is unclear at this stage how long he will be out after undergoing surgery today.
On Monday it emerged Williams is being lined up for a sensational return to Welsh rugby at the end of the season, with the Ospreys already holding talks with his representatives. You can read the full storyon that, here.
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The teams for Wales v New Zealand
The official selections for Friday’s bronze medal match will be announced early on Wednesday morning, but there are already strong rumors about the All Blacks line-up .
Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and wing or full-back Ben Smith are expected to start as they bow out of Test rugby. Sonny Bill Williams is another expected to play his final game for New Zealand and be named in the starting XV.
As for Wales, they will be without Liam Williams, George North and Tomas Francis.
You can see the team Wales Online readerswant to be picked here.
All Blacks fans cash in
New Zealand fans have been cashing in on the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup semi-final loss to England.
One supporter Mark Shaw has sold 13 cup final tickets, on behalf of his mates, which were bought for £ 490 each, to a group of England supporters.
And he got a whopping £ 1, 500 each.
“I had a lot of people come through, like heaps, ”Shawtold the New Zealand Herald.
“Some of them were saying you’re joking but we said ‘don’t go then mate’, that’s our price.
“Our theory was for all of us, if we don’t sell them we’ll go – it is the World Cup final, we were happy to go to the game.”
Elsewhere, ticket prices had skyrocketed on unofficial resale site for the final to a mammoth £ 12 , 300 each.
But Shaw and his traveling band of All Blacks fans it seems won’t be investing their profit on getting hold of tickets for New Zealand’s bronze medal play-off with Wales.
He added: “Who cares! Couldn’t give a rats mate. In fact, everyone I know isn’t going to that game. ”
Jerome Garces appointment favors South Africa – Healey
Former England star Austin Healey has joined the critics having a go at referee Jerome Garces ‘display in Wales’ Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat to the Springboks on Sunday.
World Cup chiefs have announced the Frenchman will take charge of Saturday’s showpiece final between England and South Africa despite copping some flak for his performance at the Yokohama Stadium on Sunday as Wales were beaten 19 – 16 by the ‘Boks.
Former England international referee Rob Debney claimed in his column for The Times, Garces got some big decisions wrong in the closing minutes.
And Healey went on to social media says Garces’ appointment for the final would be a fillip for the ‘Boks.
“He wasn’t good in semi allowed Du Toit and others to pile the rucks and slow ball down , stood in between 9 and 10 on numerous occasions helping to slow game further … decision favors SA me thinks, ”he wrote.
Why Nigel Owens missed out
Many rugby fans would have been surprised to see Nigel Owens is not involved in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final in any capacity, but it has since emerged he ruled himself out.
Owens suffered a calf injury in the England v New Zealand semi-final and has now almost certainly refereed his last World Cup match.
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