Snowden doubt for Italy

Italy prop Kade Snowden is likely to miss their crucial final group match against Tonga with a knee injury.

Snowden, 26, has a minor medial collateral ligament tear to his right knee, an injury he picked up just 45 seconds from the end of the 30-all draw with Scotland at Derwent Park.

It was the first game back for the Newcastle front-rower following a seven week suspension for a shoulder charge on North Queensland’s Ray Thompson in the NRL back in August.

An Italy statement added: “The injury has been assessed by medical staff and is not as serious as first thought.”

Italy take on Tonga in Halifax next Sunday, where they are likely to need a win to book a quarter-final date against New Zealand.