Wednesday Round-Up
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Wednesday Round-Up
Scotland name side for Italy: Head Coach Vern Cotter will test another captain and back-row as part of a rotated Scotland squad named to face Italy at the Stadio Olimpico this Saturday. Second-row Grant Gilchrist will skipper the squad which features 11 adjustments – nine in the pack – with the new-look loose forwards to be selected from Adam Ashe, John Hardie, Alasdair Strokosch and Hamish Watson, none of whom were involved against Ireland. They have replaced John Barclay, Hugh Blake, Blair Cowan and David Denton. The five remaining changes up front sees Kevin Bryce, Alasdair Dickinson, Richie Gray, Stuart McInally and Willem Nel come in for Fraser Brown, Allan Dell, Ryan Grant, Rob Harley, and Jon Welsh. Conversely, the backs are relatively unchanged, with uncapped duo Damien Hoyland and Rory Hughes joining the group in place of Dougie Fife and Tim Visser. The Scotland team will then announce the final 31-man squad for Rugby World Cup 2015 before concluding preparations against France in Paris on Saturday 5 September.
All Blacks fined: SANZAR has issued All Blacks' team management with a breach notice following an incident that occurred during the Test between New Zealand and Australia played at Eden Park on Saturday. Under tournament rules, water carriers are not permitted within the playing enclosure while the match is in progress. Liam Messam, who was acting as a water carrier for the All Blacks, entered the field of play during the 29th minute which constituted a breach of technical zone protocol. All Blacks' team management accepted responsibility for this breach and has been issued a fine of A$2000. New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew said: “We fully accept that we breached the sideline protocols during the match on the weekend and we accept the fine. "I have made it clear to the All Blacks team management that it was a mistake we can not repeat.”
