Italy will be looking to put down a marker ahead of their probable winner-takes-all Pool C match against Scotland when they meet Portugal at the Parc des Princes tomorrow.

LAST week, All Black coach Graham Henry was asked for his prediction on the South Africa v England game.

As the peerless Dan Carter’s perennial understudy for New Zealand, Nick Evans will always be swimming against the tide but he insists he is not willing to settle for second best at the World Cup.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry admitted he had been given some “selection headaches” after seeing a largely second-string team run in 16 tries against Portugal in a Pool C mismatch in Lyon today.

Portugal flanker Juan Severino Somoza has received a four-week ban for head-butting lock Nathan Hines during the 56-10 defeat to Scotland on Sunday.