Marsh still defying the odds

HE has beaten cancer and made light of All Black rejection, so why should French centre Tony Marsh have any fears as he prepares for Sunday’s World Cup showdown with Ireland at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome?

Marsh is powerfully built, a half inch or so short of six feet, quite a few pounds in excess of 14 stone. Although he’s a New Zealander living in France, he has already acquired a few Aussie traits as well and commented “no worries” when I told him I was Irish.

Although his coach Bernard Laporte insists Marsh will be fit for Sunday’s game - “there is inflammation of the ankle but not of the tendon” - the player himself is clearly frustrated by the injury, noting: “I’ve been having trouble with my achilles.