Autumn internationals: England have been dealt yet another injury blow ahead of their Twickenham clash against World Cup favourites New Zealand on Sunday. Sale Sharks wing Mark Cueto is out of the team after failing to recover in time from an ankle injury sustained during his side's Heineken European Cup defeat against the Ospreys 11 days ago.
Uncapped Wasps wing Paul Sackey has been drafted into the side as a third debutant, joining Gloucester centre Anthony Allen and Bristol scrumhalf Shaun Perry.
Sackey (26) has amassed a half-century of Premiership tries during his career, while his representative experience includes appearances for England Saxons at the Churchill Cup in Canada this year, England under-21s and England sevens.
Cueto becomes the latest player to miss out; the likes of Josh Lewsey, Olly Barkley, Jonny Wilkinson, James Forrester and Steve Borthwick are already sidelined.
The gloom might not end there as Leicester lock Ben Kay has been given until tomorrow to prove his fitness after suffering a dead leg during the Tigers' European Cup victory over Cardiff Blues last weekend.
Ospreys lock Brent Cockbain looks set to miss Wales' autumn international series after landing a 20-day ban for stamping.
An independent disciplinary committee yesterday afternoon found Cockbain (31) guilty of stamping on Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe during the Ospreys' 17-16 European Cup victory over Sale on October 20th.
The ban ends on November 20th, ruling Cockbain out of the Tests against Australia, the Pacific Islanders and Canada. He could return for Wales's final match, against New Zealand on November 25th, but a lack of match fitness would make his involvement unlikely.
Cockbain was omitted from the Wales squad to face Australia in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday, which was named yesterday. He has not played Test rugby for almost a year because of a hamstring injury.
Cockbain's Ospreys team-mate Gavin Henson has been recalled by Wales for the game against the Wallabies. The utility back will win his 21st cap, at inside centre, after being left out of the trip to Argentina following a demanding 12 months that included an undistinguished Lions tour to New Zealand.
Henson resumes the midfield partnership with Tom Shanklin that helped Wales win the 2005 Grand Slam. Gareth Thomas will make his 89th appearance for Wales on the wing to allow for the inclusion of Newport-Gwent Dragons fullback Kevin Morgan.
New captain Stephen Jones partners another Lions tourist, halfback Dwayne Peel. Jones is one of only four survivors from the team that beat Australia 24-22 in the last meeting between the countries, 12 months ago in Cardiff.
Ian Gough, Martyn Williams and the try-scoring hero that day, Shane Williams, also start on Saturday.
Wales have been forced to drop tight-head prop Chris Horsman from their squad after failing to reach an agreement with Worcester. Coach Gareth Jenkins had the news confirmed just hours after naming Horsman on the bench for Saturday's game.
The Welsh Rugby Union had agreed a deal with Worcester that Horsman would play for Wales against Australia on Saturday and New Zealand on November 25th, but return to club duty for the two weeks in between.
But Premier Rugby, the English clubs' governing body, instructed Worcester not release Horsman because the Test falls outside the International Rugby Board's official window. And the WRU failed to persuade them otherwise.
Scotland's head coach, Frank Hadden, admits it is highly unlikely Simon Taylor will be available for any of Scotland's three matches this month, despite the number eight taking a full part in yesterday's non-contact session as he recovers from a knee injury suffered in May.
Hadden was, however, more optimistic when asked about Allister Hogg's prospects as he fights back from an elbow injury.
It is thought both players will feature for Edinburgh against Cardiff in the Magners Celtic League on Friday night.
ENGLAND (v New Zealand): Balshaw; Sackey, Noon, Allen, Cohen; Hodgson, Perry; Sheridan, Chuter, White; Grewcock, Kay, Corry (capt), Moody, Sanderson. Replacements: Mears, Turner, Jones, Lund, Richards, Goode, Van Gisbergen.
WALES (v Australia): Morgan; G Thomas, Shanklin, Henson, S Williams; S Jones (capt), Peel; Jenkins, Rees, A Jones; Gough, Evans; J Thomas, M Williams, R Jones. Replacements: R Thomas, D Jones, Wyn Jones, Phillips, Hook, M Jones.
