Rugby Digest

Keith Wood is down to play his first match since damaging his neck against Russia in the World Cup qualifying in Krasnoyarsk after being named in the Harlequins team to take on Saracens at Vicarage Road on Sunday, reports John O'Sullivan.

Wood set for Harlequins return on Sunday

Ireland's captain was not considered fit enough to play in tomorrow's Test match against Australia at Lansdowne Road but should he come through the club match he could return to the national side for the international against Argentina on November 23rd.

Meanwhile, Harlequins have been accused of being "spiteful" after refusing to release centre Vili Satala to play for Fiji against Wales tomorrow. A fax from the Fijian RFU requesting his release from the London club did not arrive until November 4th, despite being dated October 28th.

The International Rugby Board requires clubs to release players for international duty on the condition they are given 14 days' notice. However, the Fijian RFU say the fax was sent on October 28th, which would have been inside the 14-day period.

Wales hand debut to Jones for Fijian match

Llanelli flanker Dafydd Jones will make his international debut for Wales in tomorrow's Test match against Fiji in Cardiff. The 23-year-old is promoted to a team showing six changes - plus a positional switch involving skipper Colin Charvis - following last week's 40-3 victory over Romania in Wrexham.

Fiji, meanwhile, have a Welsh flavour to their 15, with former Swansea prop Greg Smith captaining the side and Newport captain Simon Raiwalui and Neath back row forward Alivereti Mocelutu both included.

Jones, among five Llanelli players selected, has an opportunity to impress in the competitive back-row area, with both Michael Owen and Scott Quinnell stepping down following the Romania fixture. Jones takes over from Owen, while Cardiff captain and openside flanker Martyn Williams is also called up and Charvis moves to number eight instead of Quinnell.

WALES: R Williams; M Jones, T Shanklin, S Parker, G Thomas; S Jones, D Peel; B Evans, M Davies, I Thomas, G Llewellyn, R Sidoli, C Charvis (capt), M Williams, D Jones. Replacements: A Lewis, M Madden, S Williamson, R Parks, R Powell, J Robinson.

FIJI: J Narruhn; N Ligairi, S Rabeni (or E Ruivadra), S Bai, F Lasagaviau; N Little, J Rauluni; A Mocelutu, A Doviverata, S Tawake, S Raiwalui, A Naevo, B Cavubati, G Smith (capt), R Nyholt. Replacements: B Gadolo, P Biu, I Rasila, S Koyamaibole, S Rabaka, I Mow, W Serevi.

South Africa duo face daunting debuts in Paris

Centre Jean de Villiers and lock Bakkies Botha will make their debuts for South Africa in the Test against France tomorrow. Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli also recalls inside centre Robbie Fleck - who had been sidelined for 15 months with an ankle injury.

Andre Pretorius has been chosen at outhalf ahead of Brent Russell, who wore the number 10 jersey when South Africa beat Australia 33-31 in their final Tri-Nations match in August. Russell will move to the left wing for the one-off Test against France.

In the pack, Joe van Niekerk moves from the flank to number eight in place of injured captain Bob Skinstad, while flanker Corne Krige takes over as skipper.

SOUTH AFRICA (v France, Paris): W Greeff; B Paulse, J de Villiers, R Fleck, B Russell; A Pretorius, N de Kock; L Sephaka, J Dalton, W Meyer, B Botha, J Labuschagne, C Krige (capt), AJ Venter, J van Niekerk. Replacements: A Jacobs, B James, B Conradie, P Wannenburg, M Wentzel, W Roux, L van Biljon.

UCD set to continue Colours winning way

The 51st meeting of UCD and Dublin University takes place at Donnybrook this evening (7 p.m.), the intense rivalry likely to be even keener with the commissioning of a new Colours Cup that will be presented to the winners, reports John O'Sullivan.

In the 50 previous matches, UCD lead the way with 29 wins, while Trinity have triumphed 18 times with three games drawn. UCD will start as favourites, as befits a side playing in the AIB League Division One.

The Belfield side include Connacht centre Shane Moore and Leinster's Des Dillon, playing his first game for College this season. Hooker David Blaney captains with his older brother Dermot in the back row.

Trinity College, plying their trade in Division Two, include Connacht panellist Alan Maher and are led by Belvedere College past pupil Donal Crotty from the outhalf position.

It should be an entertaining contest as both sides play good rugby with UCD set to continue their run of victories.

UCD: D McKenna (CBC Monkstown); A Cahill (Blackrock), N Kearns (CBC Monkstown), S Moore (Belvedere), S McCarron (Gonzaga); E Hickey (DLS Churchtown), B O'Riordan (Gonzaga); M Moynagh (Wellington), David Blaney (Terenure, capt), I Lynam (Glenstal); N Breslin (CBS Mullingar), P Callanan (Clongowes); Dermot Blaney (Terenure); L Burke (St. Mary's), D Dillon (Clongowes). Replacements: B McGeever (Kings Hospital), J Moroney (Kings Hospital), R Sparks (Terenure), N Coughlan (Blackrock), C Davis (Blackrock), J Montgomery (Blackrock), S McCullough (Clongowes).

Dublin University: S Mitchell (Harrow UK); E Gamble (CBC Cork), D St George (Eton), B Hastings (Wesley), A Murphy (Pres Bray); D Crotty (capt), (Belvedere), M McCluggage (Campbell); C Sheehy (Belvedere), K Murphy (Blackrock), S Brophy (Belvedere); A Maher (St Joseph's), P Lennon (Oatlands), P Raftery (Bedford UK), H Hogan (High School), J Heaslip (Newbridge). Replacements: S Magee (Clongowes), F Keane (Clongowes), J Waasdorp (Berkley California), M Garvey (Belvedere), A Finlay (Sutton Park), A Howell (Wesley), M Woods (Methodist).