Australia calm fears over Folau and Giteau ahead of Rugby World Cup Final showdown with New Zealand

Caught out: Israel Folau (left) only lasted an hour yesterday
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Chris Jones26 October 2015

Australia are confident key backs Matt Giteau and Israel Folau will be fit to face New Zealand in Saturday’s World Cup Final despite both players limping out of the 29-15 victory over Argentina.

Giteau has hurt his groin while Folau lasted only 60 minutes of yesterday’s Twickenham clash before the ankle problem that ruled him out of the quarter-final with Scotland, flared up again.

While coach Michael Cheika believes his medical team can get centre Giteau and full-back Folau fit, there is more concern over the elbow injury that kept prop Scott Sio out of the semi-final.

The Wallabies gave away penalties at the scrum where the Pumas had the upper hand and Sio’s return for the Twickenham final would give the team a much needed confidence boost in this key area.

Cheika said: “Matt came off with a bit of a niggle in his groin but I think he came out alright talking to him after the game. Folau was always going to fatigue a bit with his ankle, he was always going to come off, but that will be good for us giving him that match fitness.”

Rugby Union: Frozen in Time

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The Wallabies will be facing a team led by Richie McCaw after World Rugby confirmed the All Blacks captain had not been cited over an incident involving Springboks flanker Francois Louw on Saturday.

With that no longer a distraction, both teams can concentrate on a final that sees the best two teams in the game facing each other. Cheika said: “It is a World Cup Final so the adrenaline will be pumping. We must improve massively just to be in the hunt.

“They are obviously the world No1 for a reason. We have only beaten them once in the last 10 so they will be feeling pretty good that they have got our measure.”

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