Flanker Allister Hogg gave Scotland’s confidence a lift for Sunday’s daunting Rugby World Cup clash with the All Blacks by scoring three of his team's six tries in the 42-0 drubbing of Romania at Murrayfield.

But the Kiwis won’t exactly be quaking in their boots after Frank Hadden’s men put on a stuttering performance riddled with handling errors, despite crossing their opponents' line six times.

Scotland's clash with Italy in St Etienne on September 29 now looks certain to decide which of the two accompanies certain Pool C winners New Zealand into the quarter-finals. And Romania captain Sorin Socol, whose team have now played both countries, reckons the Scots are the more complete side.

''’I was surprised to see how strong Scotland were in contact'' - Romania captain Sorin Socol


Romania lost 24-18 to the Azzurri in their opening game and Socol said after Tuesday‘s clash: ‘’I was surprised to see how strong Scotland were in contact. We knew they had a number of key players like the Lamont brothers but against us it was an all-round performance."

All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw won’t be joining the exodus of top Kiwi stars to Europe. The Crusaders flanker’s contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union runs until the end of the World Cup and delays in signing a new deal prompted reports that he may follow teammates like Carl Hayman (Newcastle Falcons) Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks) and Aaron Mauger (Leicester Tigers) into English club rugby.

However, asked if he would be playing in New Zealand next year, McCaw, 26, told reporters: "Yup. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks it will get sorted out. Ideally it would have been sorted out by now, but we've got people at home to keep an eye on that." McCaw, who many regard as the world’s best openside, is reported to earn in the region of £350,000 a year with his All Blacks salary and endorsements.

Tough-as-teak Wales captain Gareth Thomas, who feared his World Cup was over, will probably be fit to win his 100th cap in the quarter-finals after all - assuming the red dragons qualify. Coach Gareth Jenkins said a scan on the rib-cartilage injury Thomas suffered against Australia wasn't as bad as first feared and he may be available again in two weeks.

``Gareth's injury is very much a short-term one,'' said Jenkins. ``This news does come as a real shot in the arm for us.'' Fly-half Stephen Jones will take over as captain against Japan on Thursday, with Kevin Morgan taking Thomas's place at fullback.

Jonny Wilkinson feared his 2007 World Cup was over before it began when he strained his ankle ligaments during England's first training session in France. Wilkinson, 28, had to miss the win over the United States and last Friday’s thrashing by South Africa - meaning he’s played in only seven of England’s 42 Tests since winning the trophy in 2003.

He revealed: "The pain and noises I heard when I went down over my ankle. I more or less prepared myself then for what I thought was a fairly inevitable scan result, meaning that was my World Cup over after the briefest of efforts.’’ Not so - the 28-year-old Newcastle Falcons fly-half will be back for Saturday’s crucial Pool A clash with Samoa in Nantes.

The mere presence of France’s Sebastien Chabal is enough to frighten any hack, but I guess most of the British press felt that playing for Sale Sharks had mellowed the French caveman somewhat. Bearded giant Chabal, whose posy ineffectiveness in the defeat by Argentina prompted one cynic to claim he was trying to do an impression of Jesus or John the Baptist, was asked to do yet another interview for a UK audience.

‘Non,’ growled the 18-stone Seabass. ‘’When I am in France, I speak only French.’ Now whether he actually said ‘’Quand je suis en France, je parle seulement Francais’’ I’m not certain. But I do know I’m not going to ask him.

Key Australia backs Stephen Larkham and Stirling Mortlock will both be fit to start the Wallabies’ quarter-final clash - probably against England. Team medic Dr Martin Raftery confirmed that fly-half Larkham would be ready to return after knee surgery in place of 21-year-old wonderkid Berrick Barnes, while captain Mortlock is expected to recover from a shoulder injury suffered against Wales.

Tonga flanker Hale T-Pole has been banned for one game for elbowing Samoa’s Leo Lafaiali'i during Sunday’s South Pacific derby. Pole was red-carded by referee Jonathan Kaplan towards the end of Tonga's 19-15 win and will miss Sunday's Pool A game against South Africa.

Georgia captain Ilia Zedginidze is set to miss the rest of the World Cup after fracturing his right kneecap in the 14-10 defeat by Ireland. The 30-year-old lock will be replaced as skipper by scrum-half Irakli Abuseridze.