The Latest: Price cut after injury; Pyrgos in for Scotland

By Associated Press 24 September 2019, 12:00AM

TOKYO (AP) — The Latest on Day 5 of the Rugby World Cup in Japan (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

Scotland has had another injury setback following its 27-3 opening loss to Ireland, with Henry Pyrgos drafted into the squad to replace the injured Ali Price for the remainder of the Rugby World Cup.

Price injured his foot in the Pool A game on the weekend when he went on as backup scrumhalf and medical scans confirmed he could play no further games in the tournament. His departure was confirmed a day after flanker Hamish Watson was ruled out because of a knee injury.

Pyrgos, who has earned 27 caps, including the upset win over Australia in 2017, is scheduled to arrive in Japan in time for Scotland's game against Samoa at Kobe next Monday.

"Both Ali and Hamish had invested a lot of effort into being in their best physical shape for the World Cup and it's a shame they've only been involved in one game," head coach Gregor Townsend said. "However, we have a lot of belief in our wider group and the two new players (Pyrgros and Magnus Bradbury) who have been given this opportunity."

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3:30 p.m.

Springboks lock Lood de Jager says there's no move from the South Africans to panic — or even press a "reset button" — after the opening loss to New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup.

But de Jager also notes the Springboks have no margin for error now in Japan and have to win every other game in Pool B, first against Namibia on Saturday, and then against Italy and Canada, to make sure of reaching the quarterfinals.

De Jager says the 23-13 score-line against the defending champion All Blacks didn't reflect "how tight the game really was."

"We clawed our way back to 17-13 with 20 minutes to go," he said. "Just one or two big moments they handled better than us on the day."

The Springboks took the southern hemisphere title from the All Blacks this year and were unbeaten before the Rugby World Cup and de Jager says "one game, where the opposition were also good and you lost, it doesn't make you all of a sudden panic."

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2:15 p.m.

Italy coach Conor O'Shea has revamped his team to take on Canada in a Pool B game at the Rugby World Cup, making 10 changes to the starting lineup that beat Namibia 47-22 on Sunday and keeping just two players in the same positions.

Flyhalf Tommaso Allan and hooker Luca Bigi will start back-to-back games within five days in the same positions, while Jayden Hayward will switch from fullback to make his first start in the midfield for Italy.

Tommaso Bevenuti and backrower Braam Steyn also started against Namibia. The game in Fukuoka on Thursday will be Canada's first at the tournament.

Allan will combine with Callum Braley in what will be Italy's 13th halves pairing since the 2015 World Cup.

The front row of Andrea Lovotti, Bigi and Simone Ferrari started six tests together in 2017 but have worked as a starting combination only once since — a loss to England in March. Sergio Parisse, who started his record-equaling 5th Rugby World Cup by leading Italy against Namibia, is not in the match-day 23.

Italy: Matteo Minozzi, Tommaso Benvenuti, Michele Campagnaro, Jayden Hayward, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Allan, Callum Braley; Braam Steyn, Jake Polledri, Sebastian Negri, Dean Budd (captain), David Sisi, Simone Ferrari, Luca Bigi, Andrea Lovotti. Reserves: Federico Zani, Nicola Quaglio, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, Maxime Mbandà, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Mattia Bellini.

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12:30 p.m.

Tonga flyhalf Kurt Morath and center Nafi Tuitavake have been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup after sustaining injuries in the 35-3 opening loss to England on Sunday.

Tonga assistant coach Pita Alatini told a news conference Tuesday that Morath was still in a hospital in Sapporo and may need surgery after hurting his throat while trying to tackle England center Manu Tuilagi in the second half. Tuitavake broke his left arm on the last play of the game.

"It is obviously desperately disappointing for Kurt and Nafi — they have worked so hard to be here — but it means there are opportunities for others now," Alatini said.

James Faiva is likely to start at flyhalf against Argentina on Saturday as a replacement for Morath, who is Tonga's all-time leading scorer.

"It's disappointing to lose Kurt the way we have, but we've got to keep moving forward as a team and I want to take the chance that has been given to me," Faiva said. "It's a great opportunity to show my talents."

Alatini said Latiume Fositaa was being drafted into the broader squad to replace Morath, and Fetuli Paea was a likely replacement for Tuitavake.

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12 p.m.

Russia is returning for its second game of the Rugby World Cup after just four days off. Samoa will be fresh and ready to go at Kumagaya.

Given only the short break, Russia surprisingly retained the same 23-man squad which lost 30-10 to host Japan in the tournament opener last Friday.

Kirill Golosnitskiy scored the first try of the tournament, but the opener went mostly Japan's way after that.

The Samoans will be without captain Jack Lam on Tuesday but should have too much experience to be too troubled by Russia.

At 37 years, 268 days, flyhalf Tusi Pisi is set to surpass late captain Peter Fatialofa as the oldest Samoan to play at a Rugby World Cup.

It's the only game on Day 5 of the tournament. Fiji will play its second game when it takes on Uruguay on Wednesday.

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More AP Rugby World Cup: https://www.apnews.com/RugbyWorldCup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By Associated Press 24 September 2019, 12:00AM

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