June Internationals: Shields to start for England, Mafi rested by Japan

Thu, Jun 14, 2018, 1:17 PM
AAP
by AAP
Brad Shields will start against South Africa. Photo: Getty Images
Brad Shields will start against South Africa. Photo: Getty Images

South Africa prop Tendai Mtawarira will become only the second black player to represent the country 100 times when he lines up against England in Bloemfontein Saturday.

Bryan Habana, who retired this year, was the first to achieve the feat, making 124 Test appearances.

Victor Matfield, John Smit, Jean de Villiers and Percy Montgomery are the other Springbok centurions.

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus hailed Mtawarira as "a great servant of the game" when he chose him for the second Test against England.  

Zimbabwe-born Mtawarira was named Thursday in a team showing two changes from that which started a thrilling 42-39 first Test triumph over England in Johannesburg last Saturday.

Injury-plagued Frans Malherbe got the nod at tighthead prop in place of Wilco Louw, who Erasmus said was "punch-drunk" from playing so much rugby this year.

Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit replaces Jean-Luc du Preez, giving South Africa an extra lineout option.

Former captain Chris Robshaw was axed for the first time by Eddie Jones as the England coach made two changes for a must-win second Test against South Africa Saturday.England pressured the WallabiesBlindside flanker Robshaw loses his place to New Zealand-born Brad Shields, who made his debut off the bench in a 42-39 first Test loss in Johannesburg last weekend.

England must win in Bloemfontein to stand a chance of taking a series in South Africa for the first time after five failed attempts.

The final match of the three-Test series in scheduled for Cape Town on June 23.

In the only other change to the starting line-up, fit-gain lock Joe Launchbury returns in place of Nick Isiekwe.

There are also two alterations to the bench with loose forward Mark Wilson and fly-half Danny Cipriani replacing Shields and Piers Francis.

TEAMS

South Africa to face England

1. Tenda Mtawarira

2. Bongi Mbonambi

3. Frans Malherbe

4. RG Snyman

5. Franco Mostert

6. Siya Kolisi

7. Pieter-Steph Du Toit

8. Duane Vermuelen

9. Faf De Klerk

10. Handre Pollard

11. Aphiwe Dyantyl

12. Damian de Allende

13. Lukhanyo Am

14. Sibusiso Nkosi

15. Willie Le Roux

Reserves

16. Akker van der Merwe

17. Steven Kitshoff

18. Thomas du Toit

19. Jean-Luc du Preez

20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe

21. Ivan van Zyl

22. Jesse Kriel

23. Warrick Gelant

England to face South Africa

1. Mako Vunipola

2. Jamie George

3. Kyle Sinckler

4. Joe Launchbury

5. Maro itoje

6. Brad Shields

7. Tom Curry

8. Billy Vunipola

9. Ben Youngs

10. George Ford

11. Mike Brown

12. Owen Farrell

13. Henry Slade

14. Jonny May

15. Elliot Daly

Reserves

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie

17.  Joe Marler

18.  Harry Williams

19. Mark Wilson

20.  Nathan Hughes

21. Ben Spencer

22. Danny Cipriani

23. Denny Solomona 

ARGENTINA VS WALES

Warren Gatland has stuck with the side that beat Scotland. Photo: Getty ImagesWales coach Warren Gatland continues his pre-Rugby World Cup experimenting in Argentina on Saturday by making five changes to the team that pulled off a shock first Test victory.

There are two backline alterations for the second and final Test in northeastern city Santa Fe with one enforced as inside centre Owen Watkin steps in for injured Hadleigh Parkes.

At scrum-half, Aled Davies takes over from Gareth Davies as the Welsh Dragons seek another success after winning 23-10 in San Juan last Saturday.

In the pack, hooker Ryan Elias comes in for Elliot Dee and tighthead prop Tomas Francis takes the place of Dillon Lewis.

The third change among the forwards is in the back row where Ellis Jenkins takes over from Seb Davies.

Lock Cory Hill continues as captain after making a winning debut in the role last weekend when dogged defending and clinical finishing laid the victory foundations.

TEAMS

Argentina to face Wales

Not yet announced

Wales to face Argentina 

1. Rob Evans

2. Ryan Elias

3. Tomas Francis

4. Adam Beard

5. Cory Hill

6. Ellis Jenkins

7. James Davies

8. Ross Moriarty

9. Aled Davies

10. Rhys Patchell

11. George North

12. Owen Watkins

13. Scott Williams

14. Josh Adams

15. Hallam Amos

Reserves

16. Elliot Dee

17. Nicky Smith

18. Dillon Lewis

19. Bradley Davies

20. Josh Turnbull

21. Tomos Williams

22. Gareth Anscombe

23. Tom Prydie

New Zealand vs France

France can expect no respite in the second Test from the All Blacks, who are being urged by coach Steve Hansen to improve on a 41-point opening triumph.

Hansen has named an identical team to that which powered home late to prevail 52-11 at Eden Park for Saturday's clash in Wellington.

Concerned by their rusty start to the year in Auckland, where they trailed 11-8 at halftime, Hansen didn't want to halt the momentum that sparked seven tries in the last 27 minutes.

"We have a big focus right now on developing our game and working on our skill sets, connections and combinations," he said.

"It isn't beneficial to be making wholesale changes, if any at all, to the playing 23."

Sonny Bill Williams could be back for the third All Blacks Test. Photo: Getty ImagesIt means Sonny Bill Williams will need to wait until at least the third Test in Dunedin to return after the veteran inside centre underwent minor knee surgery last month.

Despite a massive impact from his bench last week, Hansen has resisted promoting any to the starting side.

Jordie Barrett is again one of three starting brothers and remains at fullback.

France have pinned their hopes on club form after announcing five changes to their starting team for the second Test against the All Blacks.

Coach Jacques Brunel deemed the three players involved in the Top 14 club final on June 2 would be off limits for last week's first Test in Auckland, which the tourists lost 52-11.

All three slot straight into his XV on Saturday at Westpac Stadium, including both flankers.

TEAMS

All Blacks to face France

1. Joe Moody

2. Codie Taylor

3. Owen Franks

4. Sam Whitelock

5. Scott Barrett

6. Liam Squire

7. Sam Cane

8. Luke Whitelock

9. Aaron Smith

10. Beauden Barrett

11. Rieko Ioane

12. Ryan Crotty

13. Anton Lienert-Brown

14. Ben Smith

15. Jordie Barrett

Reserves

16. Nathan Harris

17. Karl Tu'inukuafe

18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi

19. Vaea Fifita

20. Ardie Savea

21. TJ Perenara

22. Damian McKenzie

23. Ngani Laumape

France to face All Blacks

1. Dany Priso

2. Camille Chat

3. Uini atoni

4. Bernard le Roux

5. Yoann Maestri

6. Mathieu Babillot

7. Kelian Galletier

8. Kevin Gourdon

9. Morgan parra

10. Anthony Belleau

11. Gael Fickou

12. Geoffrey Doumayrou

13. Mathieu Bastareaud

14. Teddy Thomas

15. Benjamin Fall

Reserves

16. Pierre Bourgarit

17. Cyril Baille

18. Cedate Gomes Sa

19. Paul Gabrillagues

20. Alexandre Lapandry

21. Baptiste Serin

22. Jules Plisson

23. Maxime Medard 

USA  vs SCOTLAND

Stuart Hogg has a point to prove. Photo: Getty ImagesStuart Hogg will captain Scotland for the first time when they take on the USA in Houston.

Dark Blues head coach Gregor Townsend has named a revamped starting XV following last weekend's 48-10 win over Canada - with seven players set to win their first caps.

Hogg's Glasgow teammates Matt Fagerson and George Horne will make their international bows alongside their elder brothers, with back-rower Fagerson joined by prop Zander and halfback Horne lining up alongside inside centre Pete.

There will also be debuts for the Glasgow trio Jamie Bhatti, George Turner and Adam Hastings, as well as Edinburgh's Lewis Carmichael and Luke Hamilton.

"We always planned to play as much of the squad as possible on this tour, and we also deliberately picked more Edinburgh players in the first game because their season finished earlier," Townsend - who has changed all but three of the side that thrashed the Canadians in Edmonton last weekend - said.

"Now we welcome most of the Glasgow Warriors contingent into the team. On top of that there are seven players making their first starts for the country, which is really exciting, and we are looking forward to them going out and grabbing this opportunity."

The Edinburgh pair of Ben Toolis and Blair Kinghorn as well as Sale wing Byron McGuigan are the only players to retain their places at the home of Major League Soccer outfit Houston Dynamos.

Saturday's match will be only the eighth time in close to 700 Scotland Tests when two sets of brothers have been on the field at the same time.

TEAMS

USA to face Scotland

Not yet announced

Scotland to face USA

1. Jamie Bhatti

2. George Turner

3. Zander Fagerson

4. Lewis Carmichael

5. Ben Toolis

6. Tim Swinson

7. Luke Hamilton

8. Matt Fagerson

9. George Horne

10. Adam Hastings

11. Byron McGuigan

12. Pete Horne

13. Nick Grigg

14. Blair Kinghorn

15. Stuart Hogg

Reserves

16. Fraser Brown

17. Alan Dell

18. Murray McCallum

19. Grant Gilchrist

20. David Denton

21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne

22. Mark Bennett

23. Dougie Fife

JAPAN vs ITALY

Italian coach Conor O'Shea has made two changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's second rugby Test against Japan.

Jayden Hayward returns at fullback, pushing Matteo Minozzie to the left wing in place of the injured Mattias Bellini.

Among the forwards, Jake Polledri takes over at open-side flanker from Giovanni Licata.

Leonardo Ghiraldini again will captain Italy from hooker in his 96th Test, combining in the front row with Tiziano Pasquali and Andrea Lovotti. Lock Alessandro Zanni, in his 106th Test, moves up to fourth on Italy's list of Test appearances.

In contrast, prop Cherif Traore has been named to make his Test debut from the bench in Kobe.

Japan lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the opener 34-17 but Italy hold an overall 5-2 lead in matches between the countries.

TEAMS

Japan to face Italy

1. Keita Inagaki

2. Shota Horie

3. Ji-Won Koo

4. Wimpie Van Der Walt

4. Samuela Anise

6. Yoshitaka Tokunaga

7. Michael Leitch

8. Kazuki Himeno

9. Fumiaki Tanaka

10. Yu Tamura

11. Kenki Fukuoka

12. Timothy Lafaele

13. Will Tupou

14. Lomano Lemeki

15. Kotaru Matsushima

Reserves

16. Yusuke Niwai

17. Shintaro Ishihara

18. Takuma Asahara

19. Uwe Helu

20. Amanaki Mafi

21. Yutaka Nagare

22. Rikiya Matsuda

23. Ryoto Nakamura

Italy to face Japan

1. Andrea Lovotti

2. Leonardo Ghiraldini

3. Tiziano Pasquali

4. Alessandro Zanni

5. Dean Budd

6. Sebastian Negri

7. Jake Polledri

8. Abraham Steyn

9. Marcello Violi

10. Tommaso Allan

11. Matteo Minozzi

12. Tommaso Castello

13. Michele Campagnaro

14. Tommaso Benvenuti

15. Jayden Hayward

Reserves

16. Luca Bigi

17. Cherif Traore

18. Simone Ferrari

19. Marco Fuser

20. Giovanni Licata

21. Tito Tebald

22. Carlo Canna

23. Giulio Bisegni

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