Deans laments departure of injured Palu

Australia number 8 Wycliff Palu says he knew his Rugby World Cup was over as he limped from the field in the bruising victory over USA on Friday.

Team officials announced Tuesday that the 29-year-old would be flying home after assessing scans of his left hamstring.

“When I first did it - I have done that hamstring so many times - I knew I would probably be on the plane back home," said Palu at a press conference at the team hotel in Hanmer Springs, north of Canterbury.

“After the weekend I feel the group has come together at the right time and that’s going to be the hardest bit for me: not being part of it and being part of the journey.

“The other players have been really good. The other night we had a lot of knocks and that has brought us all tighter.”

Palu's departure from RWC 2011 is the latest in a string of setbacks the big Tongan-born Wallaby has had to endure in the past two years. He missed 11 months of rugby with knee and hamstring problems before returning to Super Rugby with the Waratahs in June.

In his comeback match he broke a bone in his shoulder and only returned to fitness as the Wallabies World Cup squad was named.

Despite this latest setback, Palu said he was determined to do what was necessary to play again.

“You have to keep moving forward. There’s still plenty of rugby ahead (for me). I have just got to go home and take my time and get the body right.”

Tough pill

Coach Robbie Deans paid tribute to the injured back row.

"It couldn’t be any worse for Cliffy. That’s a very tough pill for him,'' Deans said. “He has worked extraordinarily hard and that is evidenced in his physical state. Despite the injury challenges he has had, he is probably in the shape of his life."

There was better news from other players who took knocks in the 67-5 win over USA and Deans said Australia were raring to go after their break in the mountains.

“The two days off here have been fantastic, we are now back to work and honing in on that," he said.

“From now on it is finite, very finite. Every week there will be teams going home.

"There’s still some blokes attending to their bodies but the good thing is that mentally they are back there and looking forward to what’s in front of them.”

Lock Dan Vickerman and full back Kurtley Beale also underwent scans in Christchurch on Monday.

Concussion protocols

Vickerman was cleared of any problems in his leg, while Beale will be rested this weekend because of a minor hamstring strain.

Midfielders Pat McCabe (shoulder), Anthony Faingaa (concussion) and Rob Horne (cheek) also left the field during Australia’s third pool match.

Faingaa has satisfied the IRB concussion protocols and could be available for Australia’s match with Russia in Nelson.

Deans said McCabe should be available for the quarter-finals and Horne the semi-finals, should the Wallabies progress that far.