|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Looming presence Foot-and-mouth overshadows Six Nations
Updated: Thursday March 01, 2001 10:53 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Britain's foot-and-mouth crisis has struck a blow to England and Ireland's fascinating tussle in the Six Nations ahead of Saturday's third round. The battle between tournament favorite England and the dynamic Irish team had been hotting up after both teams won their opening two games. But the postponement of Ireland's clash with Wales in Cardiff because of fears that travelling fans could spread the livestock disease from Britain to Ireland is a setback to the tournament. England's trip to Ireland on March 24, a possible championship decider, could also be postponed for the same reason. Six Nations officials will meet in London on Friday on the eve of the weekend games to discuss the impact of the problem. England, which has notched up impressive wins over Wales and Italy, will be keen to forget the controversy as it looks for revenge over Scotland, which upset their 2000 campaign with a defeat at Murrayfield. In the other game to survive, France will be looking to bounce back from its second-round defeat in Ireland with a victory over Italy in Rome. Scotland's 19-13 victory on a soaking Murrayfield pitch, its only win of the championship, cost England the grand slam last year even though Clive Woodward's men had already won the tournament. England captain Martin Johnson is sure that Scotland boss Ian McGeechan, the lock's coach when he captained the British Lions to a series victory in South Africa in 1997, will again have special plans for the English. "I'm sure he's got something planned. They have some outstanding players," he said. "They have seen what we have done so far this season and they are thinking they are going to do something about it. "But it's all about 15 guys on the field getting the job done. It did not take a rugby genius to work out how to play the game against us last year. It's about imposing yourself on the game whatever conditions you're playing in." England coach Clive Woodward has kept faith with the team which beat Italy with a record championship score of 80-23 at Twickenham on February 17. McGeechan makes two changes to the team which drew 28-28 with Wales in its second match. Alan Bulloch, 23, replaces James McLaren in the centre while Simon Taylor, 21, comes in for Jon Petrie at number eight. "Taylor has proved he is an outstanding talent whom we want to use from the start," McGeechan said. Flyhalf Duncan Hodge will take over the goalkicking duties after winger Kenny Logan's below-par performance against Wales. Taylor, who broke his hand on his second international appearance last November, could give Scotland more explosive pace off the back of the scrum. The introduction of Bulloch should give the Scots more options in attack. McGeechan said: "Bulloch picks up good running lines and has natural pace." On his goalkicking decision, McGeechans added: "We have taken the option of starting with Duncan Hodge and there should not be a second choice needed. "The goal Hodge kicked for the draw against Wales was test quality. In watching it at the time it looked an easier kick than it actually was." The Scots know they must take better advantage of any opportunities to kick at goal in the Twickenham match after the below-par kicking of winger Kenny Logan against the Welsh. French changes French coach Bernard Laporte has made six changes and overhauled his back line for the game against Italy, which lost its opening two games against Ireland and England. Flyhalf Christophe Lamaison and wing Philippe Bernat-Salles are the only backs retained in the starting line-up from the team beaten 22-15 by Ireland. Fullback Jean-Luc Sadourny, who last played for France in the shock 42-33 defeat of New Zealand last November, replaces Xavier Garbajosa, who pulled out with a strained thigh muscle. Sebastien Bonetti, earning his first cap, and Thomas Lombard form a centre partnership to replace Richard Dourthe and Franck Comba. Wing Christophe Dominici replaces David Bory, while scrumhalf Fabien Galthie returns from suspension and prop Christian Califano starts in place of Sylvain Marconnet. Laporte believes the Italians, despite their two defeats, are a serious threat. "We didn't have much time to change things since the defeat to Ireland," Laporte said. "But at least we talked about what went wrong out there. "We must not underestimate the Italians as they proved at least for a while they could match the English. So we'll be wary in Rome." Scotland: 15-Chris Paterson; 14-Cameron Murray, 13-Alan Bulloch, 12-John Leslie, 11-Kenny Logan; 10-Duncan Hodge, 9-Andy Nicol (captain); 8-Simon Taylor, 7-Budge Pountney, 6-Martin Leslie, 5-Richard Metcalfe, 4-Scott Murray, 3-Matthew Stewart, 2-Gordon Bulloch, 1-Tom Smith.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
