Lima to miss Tonga match
PARIS, 13 September - The Samoa wing Brian Lima will not be available to play Tonga on Sunday after suffering a concussion in his side's first IRB Rugby World Cup Pool A match against South Africa.
Lima, dubbed 'The Chiropractor' for his trademark hard tackles, has been given the all clear but head coach Michael Jones (NZL) said the 35-year-old was "definitely not ready".
"We've had some good news in terms of a second medical report from the neurologist, but we wouldn't risk his health, he's only got one head," Jones said on Thursday.
Jones said Lima - the first player to appear in five rugby world cups - would, however, be available for selection for Samoa's match against England in Nantes on 22 September.
The Samoans have been plagued by injuries since naming their world cup squad, with three players declared unfit to play and sent home.
Jones also announced on Thursday that Sailosi Tagicakibau would be replacing centre Anitele'a Tuilagi, who left Paris on Tuesday after injuring his wrist last week.
Turning the tables
Tagicakibau, 24, plays for English Premiership club London Irish and made his world cup debut for Samoa in 2003.
"He's been in and out of the squad for a number of reasons over the years, mainly injuries," Jones said. "He's a very classy player."
Samoa's next match is against fellow Pacific islanders Tonga in Montpellier on Sunday.
Jones said the side were looking forward to it, despite the prospect of facing "some pretty determined, angry Tongans" - Samoa won their last meeting 50-3 in Apia in June.
"We know the Tongans will be out to turn the tables on us," Jones said.
"We know how to beat them, but anything can happen at this stage. They kept their game (against USA) pretty simple yesterday, if they can beat us that's a feather in their caps."
RNS lc/kb/gs
