Hartley to take over captaincy

DYLAN HARTLEY will captain England in Saturday’s third Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth after Chris Robshaw was ruled out with a cracked bone in his right thumb. Robshaw suffered the injury in the first Test but it was only revealed in a scan after he took another knock at the weekend.

“I’m absolutely gutted,” he said in a statement. “I’ve been very proud and honoured to lead this group during the Six Nations and on this tour and it’s a difficult way to end the season.”

Coach Stuart Lancaster said medical advice was that Robshaw should not play. “Dylan Hartley will captain the side. He has been a key part of our leadership group and I know he will step up to the task on Saturday.

“Dylan has always been part of the leadership group, he’s driven training, he’s the first-choice in his position and is respected by the players.”

England will also be without scrumhalf Ben Youngs due to a shoulder injury.

Uncapped fullback Joe Pietersen has been added to the Springbok squad ahead.The 28-year-old Pietersen, who plies his trade with the Super Rugby franchise the Stormers, has been added to the squad as cover for Patrick Lambie, who suffered an ankle injury in the Springboks 36-27 victory over England in Johannesburg.

The hosts, who hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series, are already without Zane Kirchner, who played fullback in the first Test before being ruled out of the series with a knee injury, while centre Frans Steyn will miss the third meeting between the sides as he will be getting married.

Australia winger Cooper Vuna has been cleared to play in the third Test against Wales on Saturday despite his dangerous tackle on Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny last weekend.

Vuna received a yellow card after clattering into Halfpenny while the Welshman was catching the ball in the air during Australia’s 25-23 victory in Melbourne last Saturday.

Vuna immediately made an apologetic gesture to Halfpenny, who landed on his head, and the judicial officer who reviewed the tackle after the citing decided there were mitigating factors “including a lack of intent”, the Australian Rugby Union said.