SA rugby racism case to reopen
South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) and SA Rugby, which controls the professional arm of the game, have decided to reopen the case involving Geo Cronje cleared of racism charges last week after new allegations of prejudice from Keohane.
Blue Bulls lock Cronje was alleged to have refused to share a room and bathroom facilities with black team-mate Quinton Davids for racial reasons and was last week expelled from the squad's training camp.
An internal investigation subsequently found there to be no conclusive evidence of racism.
However, Keohane resigned yesterday saying he could "no longer be part of a squad in which prejudice is tolerated, wished away and excused".
In a joint statement, SARFU and SA Rugby said: "In light of this, the board and executive considered these allegations serious enough to warrant a new investigation. SARFU is approaching an eminent person to conduct the independent investigation."
Keohane said he had handed SA Rugby managing director Rian Oberholzer a report detailing his concerns of prejudice within the Springbok set-up.
Meanwhile, France coach Bernard Laporte has made 13 changes for the second match of back-to-back World Cup warm-ups against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
France beat a second-string England side 17-16 in Marseille last weekend and have kept only winger Christophe Dominici and centre Yannick Jauzion.
"It's not an upheaval as we had decided to review all our players during these two games," said Laporte. "Those who didn't start in Marseille knew they would be fielded at Twickenham. The English will be looking for revenge and we are going to London with helmets and shoulder pads on as we can expect a hailstorm there," he said.
With one month to go before the start of the World Cup, the French have, fortunately, only two players injured. New Zealand-born centre Tony Marsh is nursing a painful calf muscle while fullback Pepito Elhorga is recovering from a rib injury sustained during the 56-8 trashing of Romania two weeks ago.
Australia vice-captain Toutai Kefu has been ruled out of the World Cup with a cracked shoulder blade, dealing a harsh blow to the host nation's hopes of retaining their title.
"I gave it one last shot this morning but the injury is a lot worse than first thought and that means I'll miss the World Cup," Kefu told reporters in Brisbane after further examinations indicated his test career had likely come to an end.
Australia will name their 30-man World Cup squad tomorrow and play their opening match against Argentina on October 10.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has hinted that New South Wales number eight David Lyons is a likely replacement, although he has not ruled out moving flanker George Smith to the back of the pack.
France (v England): Poitrenaud; Garbajosa, Jauzion, Liebenberg, Dominici; Merceron, Yachvili; (8-1): Labit Chabal, Tabacco, Brouzet, Auradou, Poux, Ibanez (captain), Milloud.
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