Rugby Union: Mostyn injury weakens Ireland

IRELAND SUFFERED another setback on the eve of this morning's second Test with Australia in Perth, when Matthew Mostyn was ruled out of the team through injury.

The Australian-born winger was forced to stand down when he failed a last-minute fitness test after straining a hamstring during training on Wednesday. The Dungannon centre Jonathan Bell was promoted to the starting line-up with the uncapped Jeremy Staunton moving to the substitutes' bench.

Mostyn's loss comes as yet another blow to the Irish who lost their full- back Conor O'Shea when he broke his jaw in last Saturday's first Test.

In Albany yesterday, the New Zealand full-back Jeff Wilson scored four tries as the All Blacks ended a record five-match losing streak in emphatic fashion, beating Samoa 71-13. New Zealand's next opponents are France in a one-off Test in Wellington a week today, while the French must first face a New Zealand A side in Hamilton tomorrow.

IRELAND: G Dempsey (Terenure); J Bishop (London Irish), B O'Driscoll (University College Dublin), K Maggs (Bath), J Bell; D Humphreys (both Dungannon), T Tierney (Garryowen); P Clohessy (Young Munster), K Wood (Harlequins), P Wallace (Saracens), P Johns (Dungannon), M O'Kelly, T Brennan (both St Mary's College), A Ward (Ballynahinch), D O'Cuinneagain (Sale, capt).

AUSTRALIA: C Latham (Queensland); J Little (NSW), D Herbert, T Horan (both Queensland), J Roff (ACT); N Spooner (Queensland), G Gregan (ACT); D Crowley (Queensland), J Paul, P Noriega (both ACT), T Bowman (NSW), D Giffin (ACT), M Cockbain, D Wilson (capt), T Kefu (all Queensland).