Sporting Digest: Rugby Union

Olo Brown, the New Zealand prop, has been ruled out of the rest of the 1998 season after suffering a disc prolapse in his back during the Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Durban on 15 August.

Australia face a catalogue of injuries ahead of next Saturday's final Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand as they bid to pick themselves up from their Tri-Nations defeat in South Africa. The Wallabies beaten by the in-form Springboks 29-15 at the weekend have only five days to recover. Centre Daniel Herbert (hamstring), his partner Tim Horan (knee), wing Ben Tune (knee), flyhalf Steve Larkham (chin and lower back), flanker Matt Cockbain (thigh) and prop Andrew Blades (Achilles) are the main worries.