All Black recovers from broken leg thanks to traditional Fiji healer

NEW ZEALAND have named winger Waisake Naholo in their squad to defend the Rugby World Cup just six weeks after he broke his leg. Naholo has made an amazing recovery after seeking help from a Fijian traditional healer. He cracked a tibia in his debut Test against Argentina on July 16 and was thought to be sidelined for three months but tests show he should be fit at least for the All Blacks’ third pool match against Georgia on October 3. The surprise omissions from the All Blacks squad were full back Israel Dagg and wing Cory Jane, both of whom played in the victory over France in the 2011 final.

SCOTLAND lock Grant Gilchrist is hoping he has done enough to be included in Vern Cotter’s 31-man squad. Gilchrist returned to Scotland’s line-up on Saturday as they beat Italy 48-7 at Murrayfield after missing his team’s victory through illness in Turin last week. ‘It’s a dream for all of us to make the squad and represent Scotland on this massive stage,’ said Gilchrist, 25. ‘I’d like to think though that I’d done enough to make the 31.’

URUGUAY, who are in the same group as England and Wales, confirmed yesterday that their World Cup squad will comprise the 31 players who lost a warm-up series in Japan 2-0. Lock Santiago Vilaseca will captain the team in which 26-year-old back-row forward Diego Magno is the most-capped player with 48 international appearances.

NAMIBIA coach Phil Davies said his squad are ready for the most demanding schedule of all the teams in the tournament. They face four group matches in 17 days, including the All Blacks at Wembley on September 24. Daavies said: ‘It’s a case of us playing to our maximum and that’s all we can ask for.’