Ioane ready for Wallabies return

Australia wing Digby Ioane said Tuesday he was ready to make a dramatic comeback in this weekend's World Cup quarter-final against South Africa just a month after fracturing his thumb. Ioane, who suffered the injury in the Wallabies' opening Pool C win against Italy at North Harbour on September 11 and underwent surgery, said he was available for Sunday's sudden-death game in Wellington against the defending champions. "I'm 100 percent, I've been doing full training this week, so I'll be out there for selection," Ioane told reporters here on Tuesday. "I'm ready to play and looking forward to it." Ioane's return will be a significant boost for Australia, who are without winger Drew Mitchell, who has returned home with a hamstring injury. Replacement wing Lachie Turner arrived in Wellington on Monday along with backrow forward Matt Hodgson, who was called up after Wycliff Palu's World Cup was cut short by a hamstring problem. Australia are due to announce their team on Friday. The Wallabies find themselves facing the Springboks after failing to top Pool C following their shock 15-6 pool defeat by Ireland.