JERRY FLANNERY IS a major doubt for Ireland’s crunch group C game with Australia on Saturday morning.
The Munster hooker was named on the bench for Ireland’s second pool game in Auckland despite earlier pulling up in training with a calf strain.
The news is the latest in a long list of World Cup casualties.
The All Blacks are planning without their star man Dan Carter ahead of their game with Japan. The out half was replaced during the tournament opener on Friday.
All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said: “The key thing is that Daniel had been recovering well from a stiff lower back.
“However, he pulled up sore at an indoor training session this morning so we have made the decision not to risk him and we will aim to have him back fully training next week in preparation for the France test.”
Elsewhere, France No 10 Daniel Skrela and massive England prop Andrew Sheridan will both miss the rest of the competition with injuries.
Champions South Africa will plan without winger Bryan Habana (knee), lock Victor Matfield (hamstring) and second five-eighth Jean de Villiers (rib cartiilage) against Namibia this weekend.
