News round-up: Premier Rugby (PRL) have responded to criticism of their decision to take legal action in their row with the RFU by declaring they have been left with no alternative. The umbrella organisation for the 12 English Premiership clubs claim seeking a solution through the courts to the staging of a fourth England international this autumn is in the "interests of the game".
PRL are locked in a battle with the RFU, who have arranged to play New Zealand on November 5th to mark the opening of Twickenham's new South Stand.
The Test falls outside the traditional window for autumn internationals and there is a full Premiership programme scheduled for that weekend. But Twickenham officials, offering to provide compensation, insisted England players should be released for the match, prompting PRL to seek legal clarification on the matter.
RFU chairman Martyn Thomas yesterday criticised the clubs' decision to pursue their position in the courts and PRL replied, outlining their reasons.
A statement read: "Premier Rugby had made their position very clear in October 2005, but given this precipitate announcement which precluded further negotiation, Premier Rugby was left with no choice but to seek rapid clarification through the courts.
"The process is in the interests of the game as it provides the quickest and cheapest solution."
England are currently in Australia, where team coach Andy Robinson has played down injury concerns surrounding skipper Pat Sanderson and new cap Peter Richards ahead of Sunday's first Test against Australia.
Neither player trained yesterday, with Gloucester scrumhalf Richards nursing a minor wrist problem and Sanderson suffering from stiffness.
But Robinson is confident they will not follow wing James Simpson-Daniel out of contention for the Telstra Stadium encounter.
Robinson's line-up includes three Test rookies in Richards, lock Alex Brown and flanker Magnus Lund, while there are recalls for 35-year-old Leicester prop Graham Rowntree and London Irish centre Mike Catt - five months Rowntree's junior - with Catt partnering the gifted Newcastle prospect Mathew Tait in midfield.
Flanker Donnie Macfadyen will play his first Test in two years when Scotland take on South Africa in Durban on Saturday. Macfadyen (26) last played a Test against South Africa in Edinburgh in 2004 before a lingering knee injury kept him out of action for 15 months.
Scotland coach Frank Hadden said Macfadyen had won his place with an impressive performance as a substitute in Scotland's 66-19 demolition of the Barbarians in Edinburgh.
"I was pleased with the way he went in the second half, he caught my eye," Hadden said yesterday.
South Africa have named a full-strength team, including prop Os du Randt. The team shows five changes to the forwards and two among the backs from the side that scraped to a 30-27 over a World XV in Johannesburg last Saturday.
South Africa's most pressing selection issue was resolved when stalwart loosehead du Randt, who aggravated an old groin injury, was passed fit to play.
Other returnees to the pack include hooker and captain John Smit, lock Victor Matfield, and flankers Schalk Burger and Juan Smith. Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and right wing Breyton Paulse return among the backs.
Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has picked uncapped Ospreys players Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones to start the first Test against Argentina in Puerto Madryn on Sunday.
Australia will play Wales, Italy, Ireland and Scotland on their November tour of Europe. Australia face the Welsh at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on November 4th before Tests against Italy in Rome, Ireland in Dublin and Scotland in Edinburgh on the following three Saturdays.
ENGLAND (v Australia): I Balshaw; T Varndell, M Tait, M Catt, T Voyce; O Barkley, P Richards; G Rowntree, L Mears, J White; A Brown, L Deacon; M Lund, L Moody, P Sanderson (capt). Replacements: N Walshe, A Goode, J Noon, G Chuter, T Payne, C Jones, J Worsley.
SOUTH AFRICA (v Scotland): P Montgomery; B Paulse, J Fourie, J de Villiers, A Snyman; J van der Westhuyzen, F du Preez; O du Randt, J Smit (capt), E Andrews; D Rossouw, V Matfield; S Burger, J Smith, J van Niekerk. Replacements: H Shimange, L Sephaka, J Muller, P Wannenburg, R Januarie, W Olivier, G du Toit.
SCOTLAND (v South Africa): H Southwell; C Paterson, M Di Rollo, A Henderson, S Lamont; D Parks, M Blair; G Kerr, S Lawson, B Douglas; N Hines, S Murray; J White (capt), D Macfadyen, A Hogg. Replacements (from): D Hall, C Smith, A Kellock, J Petrie, K Brown, S Pinder, G Ross, S Webster.
WALES (v Argentina): L Byrne; M Jones, J Robinson, M Watkins, S Williams; N Robinson, M Phillips; D Jones (capt), M Rees, A Jones, I Gough, I Evans, A Wyn Jones, G Thomas, A Popham. Replacements: R Hibbard, R Thomas, J Yapp, G Delve, A Williams, J Hook, C Czekaj.
