RUGBY DIGEST: ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA: Martin Johnson has refused to panic after England's defeat by Australia and his only change for Saturday's South Africa game is the introduction of hefty flanker James Haskell for Tom Croft.
England were beaten 28-14 by the Wallabies at the weekend, having overcome the Pacific Islanders 39-13 in Johnson's first game in charge and failed to impose themselves up front in the set-piece or at the breakdown.
Johnson said Haskell had been impressive coming off the bench in both matches and deserved his chance. The only other change in the squad announced on Tuesday is on the bench where uncapped Leicester flanker Jordan Crane comes in for Michael Lipman.
ENGLAND: D Armitage (London Irish); P Sackey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), R Flutey (Wasps), U Monye (Harlequins); D Cipriani (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), T Palmer (Wasps), J Haskell (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester).
WALES v NEW ZEALAND: Wales coach Warren Gatland has recalled the starting team that lost 20-15 to South Africa 10 days ago for the visit of New Zealand to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Gatland made 12 changes to that side for last weekend's comfortable 34-13 win over Canada but now reverts back to his strongest side for the visit of the All Blacks.
"The All Blacks are the team to beat in the world game, they are the yardstick by which every nation measures themselves and we are no different, but we are relishing the opportunity presented to us," Gatland said.
Captain Ryan Jones again features at blindside flanker, switching from number eight to accommodate the in-form Andy Powell.
WALES: L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Gloucester); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), A Jones (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys, capt), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Powell (Cardiff Blues). Replacements: R Hibbard (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), D Jones (Scarlets), D Peel (Sale Sharks), J Hook (Ospreys)/D Biggar (Ospreys), A Bishop (Ospreys).
FRANCE V AUSTRALIA: France forward Sebastien Chabal will start for the first time in three matches after coach Marc Lievremont named him in the side to face Australia at the Stade de France on Saturday (8pm).
The Sale Sharks lock, who has 41 caps, was on the bench when France beat Argentina 12-6 two weeks ago and the Pacific Islanders 42-17 last weekend. He takes over from Romain Millo-Chluski.
Australia have made three changes to their starting XV. Prop Ben Alexander replaces Benn Robinson to earn his third cap, while Dean Mumm comes into the back row, pushing Hugh McMeniman - who started as a flanker against England - into the second row instead of Mark Chisholm.
Wycliff Palu is recalled at number eight in place of Richard Brown, who injured his knee at the weekend.
FRANCE: M Medard; J Malzieu, Y Jauzion, B Baby, C Heymans; D Skrela, S Tillous-Borde; L Faure, D Szarzewski, N Mas, S Chabal, L Nallet (capt), T Dusautoir, F Ouedraogo, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: B Kayser, B Lecouls, R Millo-Chluski, L Picamoles, J Tomas, D Traille, A Palisson.
AUSTRALIA: A Ashley-Cooper; P Hynes, R Cross, S Mortlock (capt), D Mitchell; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Alexander, S Moore, A Baxter, H McMeniman, N Sharpe, D Mumm, G Smith, W Palu. Replacements: T Polota-Nau, S Kepu, M Chisholm, D Pocock, S Cordingley, Q Cooper, D Ioane.
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