Rugby World Cup

Hooker Ford had been a major doubt with a head knock picked up during the Rugby World Cup defeat by South Africa.

Centre Mark Bennett also returns to a side showing seven changes after missing out against the Springboks.

A victory at St James' Park on Saturday would secure Scotland a place in the quarter-finals.

Samoa cannot now qualify and will be without Newcastle Falcons wing Alesana Tuilagi, who has been suspended after foul play during his side's weekend defeat by Japan.

Last weekend's defeat to Japan ended the Manu's hopes of making the quarter finals.

In a further blow, vice-captain Alesana Tuilagi was banned for five weeks for striking a Japanese defender with his knee.

The suspension has been criticised by a host of ex-players, rugby commentators and fans, for what appeared nothing more than a poorly executed tackle, and the team admits they too were shocked by the decision.

Assistant coach Alama Ieremia said the team owed it to themselves and their supporters to give it everything in their final match.

Tonga were arguably the better side early on, dominating the breakdown and scrum and forcing a host of penalties.

However, Ben Smith and prop Tony Woodcock both scored first-half tries to give the All Blacks breathing space.

Nehe Milner-Skudder scored twice before Sonny Bill Williams, Sam Cane and Ma'a Nonu applied some second-half gloss.

The permutations

Losses to Georgia and Argentina have all but ended the Ikale Tahi's hopes of making the knockout rounds.

A bonus-point victory against the defending champions would keep alive Tonga's faint hopes of reaching the quarter finals.

England became the first hosts to fail to reach the knockout stages after losing to Wales and Australia.

Gatland said the media reaction to the exit amounted to an "assassination" of Lancaster's coaching team.

Asked if he had sympathy with his English counterpart, Gatland replied: "Absolutely yes."

Wales and Australia play each other on Saturday to decide the winners of Pool A, while England face bottom-of-the-group Uruguay in a dead rubber at Manchester's Etihad Stadium.

Hooker Ford had been a major doubt with a head knock picked up during the Rugby World Cup defeat by South Africa.

Centre Mark Bennett also returns to a side showing seven changes after missing out against the Springboks.

A victory at St James' Park on Saturday would secure Scotland a place in the quarter-finals.

Samoa cannot now qualify and will be without Newcastle Falcons wing Alesana Tuilagi, who has been suspended after foul play during his side's weekend defeat by Japan.

The 30-year-old, who made the last of his 16 appearances for Wales in 2012, has been unable to recover from a third operation to cure the problem.

Bishop joined Ospreys in 2005, making 209 appearances for the region.

"If there is ever a player who illustrates everything that an Osprey should be, it's Andrew," said coach and former team-mate Steve Tandy.

"It's been a privilege to work with him, both as a coach and playing alongside him from when he first came into the squad as a youngster."

Tandy described Bishop as a "tough cookie".

Coach Michael Cheika was due to announce the line-up at 08:00 BST.

But the former Leinster boss will wait until after their Thursday training session to do so - with Wales naming their team at 11:00 BST.

Australia's Israel Folau (ankle) and wing Rob Horne (shoulder) are doubts while Michael Hooper is suspended.

Waratahs full-back Folau came off in the 66th minute of the 33-13 win over England last weekend.

The winger scored three times in 21 second-half minutes to draw level with Lomu's mark of 15 World Cup tries.

The Springboks ran in eight second-half tries in all to earn a bonus-point win at the Olympic Stadium.

South Africa top Pool B and will now play the loser of Saturday's Pool A decider between Australia and Wales.

A tale of two halves

A mixture of South Africa's ill-discipline and poor finishing kept the score down in the first half, while USA only made it into the Boks' 22 in the last minute of the half, despite enjoying plenty of possession.

Namibia led at half-time in a World Cup game for the first time after two penalties by Theuns Kotze.

Georgia were guilty of too many handling errors in a first half that lasted 68 minutes in real time.

However, they scored two tries after the break through Mamuka Gorgodze and Lasha Malaguradze to help seal victory before Kotze went over for Namibia.

While that try earned the Africans their first ever World Cup point, the result lifts Georgia, who have eight points, above Tonga into third place in Pool C.