Rugby World Cup

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says Israel Folau's "disrespectful" comments would currently make it impossible to pick the superstar for Australia at this year's Rugby World Cup.

Folau remains stood down by Rugby Australia over his latest social media tirade, which proclaimed homosexuals, drunks and atheists would go to hell unless they repented.

"Getting out in that disrespectful manner publicly is not what our team's about," Cheika said on Monday.

Nonu was not invited to be part of the 41-man group which assembled in Wellington on Monday, but was offered a ray of hope when head coach Steve Hansen said the veteran midfielder would "be considered like anybody else".

Hansen said the selectors had decided to invite only players involved in the All Blacks' 2018 campaign.

"There are some guys who aren't here that, if you were picking it on form, probably would be here, but the rules are the rules and we are all playing by them."

Leavy suffered the injury during Leinster's 21-18 Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster on Saturday after coming off the bench in the second half.

"Leinster Rugby can confirm that Dan Leavy had an initial scan yesterday on a complex knee ligament injury but needs further assessment this week," the club said in a statement.

"He has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and into next season to include the Rugby World Cup."

Leavy, 24, won the last of his 11 caps against Argentina in November after missing last year's Six Nations with a calf injury.

The Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) board last month unanimously recommended South Africa to host the tournament in six years' time.

Yet World Rugby Council members on Wednesday voted in favour of the France bid, despite South Africa being picked out as a "clear leader" a couple of weeks before decision day.

France presented the tournament solo for the first time in 2007, having played joint-host in 1991 with the UK and Ireland, and they will also stage the 10th edition of the tournament.

Kata, who played five tests for the Kiwis last year, has declared his allegiance to Tonga for the tournament.

That wouldn't have been possible under the old international eligibility rules - which allowed just one change per four-year cycle - but the revised rules make it possible.

Kata said it was a relatively simple decision.

"I want to play for Tonga - I just know that is what I want to do," Kata told the Herald on Sunday.

In wet and windy conditions, the French territory scored two unanswered tries and kept the Cookies scoreless in the second half.

The test was marred by ill-discipline, with Tahiti prop Martin Taeae, winger James Tekurio and Cook Islands centre Samuela Longo Leuta sent off amid a flurry of eight cards.

President of Tahiti Rugby Union, Charles Tauziet, claimed the "underdog" tag prior to kick-off but said the visitors ultimately won the game up front.

World Rugby brought in a tougher approach to dangerous tackling this year, with zero tolerance for reckless or accidental tackles that make contact with a players head.

Head coach Gareth Baber said last month the players would have to make adjustments to their tackling technique, to ensure they keep seven players on the field.

Two tournaments on he said it was still a work in progress.

The submissions will be assessed by a World Rugby Technical Review Group and applicants that meet the required criteria will move to the candidate phase on 1 November.

Wonderful tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma'a Nonu had given the All Blacks a 21-3 lead early in the second half before David Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani struck back.

With 15 minutes to go there were just four points in it, but a nerveless long-distance drop-goal and penalty from Dan Carter snatched back control.

And when replacement Beauden Barrett sprinted away on to Ben Smith's clearing kick at the death history was made, with New Zealand also becoming the first three-time champions of the world.

The Pumas were nearly kept tryless for the second straight playoff match, before replacement Juan Pablo Orlandi crashed over with the final play of the game.

The Springboks wing JP Pietersen opened the scoring early on in the right corner and they led 16-3 at half-time, before lock Eben Etsebeth added the Boks' second try in the left corner.

Pumas openside flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe played his final Test match in the fixture, as did South African wing Bryan Habana and lock Victor Matfield - the oldest Springbok ever at 38.