A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Scotland out to make amends
HEAD COACH Andy Robinson has demanded his Scotland side make amends for the dismal defeat to New Zealand in Saturday’s Test against South Africa at Murrayfield.
Scotland slumped to a 49-3 loss to the All Blacks last weekend, ending a four-Test unbeaten run, and Robinson has responded by making four changes to the starting XV for this weekend’s clash against the world champions, with Rory Lawson coming in as scrumhalf and captain. Robinson is determined his side show a response from the loss to New Zealand against the Springboks.
Robinson said: “There were no excuses for our performance last week. You’ve got to be able to bounce back and what is great is that we’ve got another opportunity within seven days to bounce back.
“That’s an opportunity the players understand they’ve got to take.”
Easter to captain England as Johnson makes changes
NICK EASTER will captain England in Saturday’s Investec Test against Samoa after manager Martin Johnson made four changes from the team that beat Australia.
Leeds openside flanker Hendre Fourie has been handed his first Test start in place of regular captain Lewis Moody, who has been given a week’s rest. Matt Banahan, who won his previous five caps on the wing, has been preferred to Delon Armitage as Mike Tindall’s outside centre replacement.
Blindside flanker James Haskell, who has not featured yet in this Autumn Series, and tighthead prop David Wilson will both start, with Tom Croft and Dan Cole moved to the bench for England’s first meeting with Samoa since the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Otherwise, Johnson has retained the core of the team that sealed a record 35-18 victory over the Wallabies last Saturday.
Easter has previously captained England in non-cap internationals against the Barbarians in 2008 and at the end of last season but he has never led his country into a Test match.
ENGLAND(v Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday, 2.30pm): B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath), S Hape (Bath), M Cueto (Sale); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), T Palmer (Stade Francais), J Haskell (Stade Francais), H Fourie (Leeds), N Easter (Harlequins, capt). Replacements: S Thompson (Leeds), D Cole (Leicester), D Attwood (Gloucester), T Croft (Leicester), D Care (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), D Armitage (London Irish).
Bishop urges concentration
CENTRE Andrew Bishop believes Wales cannot afford to be distracted by any party atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow night against Fiji. It is also the BBC’s annual Children in Need charity spectacular.
“There are a lot of things happening on Friday night, a couple of bands playing, and we don’t want to be getting caught up in the atmosphere,” said Ospreys centre Bishop, who wins his 14th cap.
Kankowski issues warning to Scotland
SOUTH AFRICA have warned Scotland a full demonstration of their ability is near after two narrow victories on tour so far.
The world champions defeated Ireland 23-21 and Wales 29-25 and face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday seeking a victory which would take them three quarters of the way towards a Grand Slam.
Ryan Kankowski, who replaces the rested Pierre Spies in the starting XV after the number eight’s man-of-the-match display in Cardiff, believes the Springboks are ready to perform after two under-par displays.
“It’s been a long season, but the guys are working hard and hopefully building game after game,” said Kankowski.
“We’ve had periods of each game, 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there, where the guys have really played well, so hopefully we can get a bit more time where we find out feet and the guys start gelling well together.” Victory over Scotland would see England standing in the way of a Home Nations clean sweep.
But Kankowski is putting the Grand Slam to the back of his mind.
“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” he said.
“This weekend it’s Scotland and hopefully we can play well as a team and we’ll see what happens.” Kankowski will be looking to impress as one of four changes to the Springboks’ starting XV, with Lwazi Mvovo, Zane Kirchner and Francois Hougaard also coming into the side.
Kankowski added: “It’s always exciting getting a start for the Springboks and I’m really looking forward to it.
“You’ve got to use every opportunity, you never know when it’s going to be your last.
“Hopefully I can make the best of this one and I can step up and keep stepping up.”
Fiji make eight changes to face Wales
FIJI COACH Sam Domoni has made eight changes to his starting XV to face Wales at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow night. Gloucester flanker Akapusi Qera drops to the bench after starting Saturday’s 34-12 defeat to France in Nantes while Clermont flyer Napolioni Nalaga is left out of the 22. Exeter fullback Josh Matavesi and Saracens wing Michael Tagicakibau are handed starts and with Toulon’s Gabiriele Lovobalavu in the centre, Scarlets prop Deacon Manu continues as captain. Up front, Campese Ma’afu demotes Graham Dewes, who scored the winning try against Wales at the 2007 World Cup, to the bench as he takes the loosehead prop slot and Villiame Veikoso gets the hooker’s jersey.
There are six survivors from the 22 that defeated Wales three years ago, although there would have been eight had former Leeds centre Seru Rabeni and Sale lock Wame Lewaravu not been delayed in travelling over visa issues.
