Giffen to stay with Wallabies

Australian lock David Giffin has been cleared to remain with the Wallabies World Cup squad following his horror fall at Telstra Stadium last night.

The giant second-row fell awkwardly trying to collect Felipe Contepomi’s second-half re-start during the home side’s 24-8 opening night triumph and was unconscious for several minutes before being carted from the field on a stretcher.

However, hospital tests have shown no lasting damage and Giffin rejoined his team-mates late last night.

“I was pretty concerned when I saw him fall because he wasn’t moving,” admitted Australian team doctor Martin Raftery.

“However, the initial impact is not always a guide to the damage which has been sustained and from the superficial tests we have carried out everything seems to be back to normal.”

Giffin has however been ruled out of next Saturday’s encounter with Romania in Brisbane after suffering a shoulder injury in the incident.

“There is no question of him playing next week anyway because of the shoulder, so that gives him a bit of extra recovery time,” added Raftery.

“That injury will be reviewed during the week and at the moment it is causing us more worry than the concussion.”

Raftery also confirmed fly-half Stephen Larkham had been a doubt on the eve of the Test after picking up a stomach virus, although he has now recovered from that, while full-back Chris Latham should be available to face Romania after missing last night’s game with the after-effects of pneumonia.