Arbizu ruled out of tour

ARGENTINA: Argentina centre Lisandro Arbizu, who missed out on a fourth World Cup because of ligament damage last year, has …

ARGENTINA: Argentina centre Lisandro Arbizu, who missed out on a fourth World Cup because of ligament damage last year, has been denied a comeback through injury.

Former Pumas captain Arbizu, who was set for Argentina's tour of France and Ireland this month, has pulled out of the squad, the Argentinian Rugby Union (UAR) said yesterday. Arbizu pulled a muscle during his club Bayonne's French championship match against Perpignan last weekend.

He is being replaced in the squad by Miguel Avramovic of local club Alumni.

ARGENTINA SQUAD: Backs: M Avramovic, L Borges, F Contepomi, M Contepomi, J Fernandez Miranda, N Fernandez Miranda, P Gomez Cora, J Hernandez, F Aramburu, A Pichot, H Senillosa, G Tiesi, Forwards: P Albacete, RAlvarez, P Bouza, M Durand, E Guinazu, O Hasan, M Ledesma, G Longo, F Mendez, L Ostiglia, A Petrilli, D Rodriguez, R Roncero, M Schusterman.

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SCOTLAND: Scotland coach Matt Williams has made five changes for tomorrow night's meeting with Japan in Perth.

The full-back Hugo Southwell and number eight Jon Petrie both start after impressing as replacements in the 31-14 defeat by Australia last weekend.

Newcastle's lock Stuart Grimes, the Worcester centre Ben Hinshelwood and the prop Gavin Kerr of Leeds, all needed by their English clubs last week, return. Chris Paterson and Sean Lamont have switched wings and Allister Hogg moves to blindside flanker.

SCOTLAND: H Southwell; C Paterson, B Hinshelwood, A Henderson, S Lamont; D Parks, C Cusiter; A Jacobsen, G Bulloch, G Kerr, S Grimes, N Hines, A Hogg, J Petrie, D Macfadyen. Replacements: R Russell, C Smith, S MacLeod, J White, M Blair, G Ross, G Morrison.

ITALY: Italy coach John Kirwan has kept faith with the players who demolished Canada 51-6 for his side's match against the All Blacks tomorrow.

Kirwan makes only one change, naming Walter Pozzebon in place of left wing Denis Dallan, who injured his Achilles tendon against the Canadians. Canada face England tomorrow.

ITALY: K Robertson; L Nitoglia, G Canale, A Masi, W Pozzebon; R Wakarua, P Griffen; D Dal Maso, M Bergamasco, A Persico, S Dellape, M Bortolami (captain), S Perugini, F Ongaro, A Lo Cicero. Replacements: G Intoppa, S Costanzo, E Pavanello, S Orlando, P Travagli, L Orquera, M Pratichetti.

CANADA (v England): D Daypuck; D Moonlight, R Smith, M Di Girolamo, S Richmond; E Fairhurst, P Fleck; C Yukes, S McKeen, J Cudmore, M Burak, J Jackson, F Gainer, A Abrams, K Tkachuk. Replacements: M Lawson, G Cooke, D Pletch, C Strubin, D Spicer, J Cannon, S O'Leary.