BOOME OUT OF BOK SQUAD

SPRINGBOK lock Selborne Boome will not play in the World Cup. Boome suffered an injury to his thumb in the warm-up match against an Eastern Province XV in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Subsequent tests revealed that Boome had fractured a bone in his thumb, and that the injury is serious enough to leave him out of action for six to eight weeks. It is expected that Lions stalwart AJ Venter will be called up to the squad. Springbok coach Nick Mallett said Monday night that he would have to consult with the South African Rugby Football Union and the national selectors before he would name a replacement.