FRANCE v AUSTRALIA: Dimitri Szarzewski, Frederic Michalak and Florian Fritz will all be available for France's Test against Australia on Saturday, team manager Jo Maso said yesterday.
Hooker Szarzewski's hearing for punching by a European Rugby Cup (ERC) commission scheduled for today has been postponed. The 22-year-old Stade Francais hooker was cited for punching Lewis Moody during last weekend's Heineken European Cup match against Leicester.
Outhalf Michalak has recovered from gastroenteritis and centre Fritz has overcome a groin injury. "For the time being, all is well," Maso said. Michalak added: "I feel well, in my head and in my stomach".
Fritz also took part in the two training sessions for the first time this week after being kneed in the groin during Toulouse's European Cup match against London Wasps on Sunday.
ARGENTINA v SOUTH AFRICA: Coach Jake White has recalled Conrad Jantjes to the Springbok side after a four-year absence for Saturday's one-off Test against Argentina at the Velez Sarsfield stadium in Buenos Aires.
Jantjes, who made the last of his eight Test appearances against the USA in December 2001, was one of four changes to the Springbok starting 15 that completed the Tri-Nations series with a 31-27 defeat by New Zealand in August. Also recalled is scrumhalf Bolla Conradie while there were two changes in the backrow with Jacques Cronje starting at number eight and Solly Tyibilika on the flank.
Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has picked his strongest available team for the first time this year and included Leinster's Felipe Contepomi at outhalf.
Loffreda has some injuries but is spared the problems he had when he fielded a virtual second-string side against the Lions in Cardiff in May because clubs would not release players.
SOUTH AFRICA: P Montgomery; C Jantjes, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana; A Pretorius, B Conradie; O du Randt, J Smit (capt), CJ van der Linde; B Botha, V Matfield; S Tyibilika, J Smith, J Cronje. Replacements: H Shimange, E Andrews, A van den Berg, S Burger, M Claassens, De Wet Barry, B Russell.
ARGENTINA: J Martin Hernandez; L Borges, F Martin Aramburu, M Contepomi, F Leonelli; F Contepomi, A Pichot (capt); R Roncero, M Ledesma, O Hasan; I Fernandez Lobbe, P Bouza; J Manuel Leguizamon, M Durand, G Longo. Replacements: E Guinazu, M Scelzo, M Carizza, M Schusterman, N Fernandez Miranda, F Todeschini, B Stortoni.
ENGLAND: England have been hit by another major injury blow ahead of their Test against Australia at Twickenham. Wasps lock Simon Shaw is set to miss the clash on Saturday week with a back problem. The injury forced him off at half-time during Wasps' European Cup encounter against Toulouse.
