Rugby Briefs

PARIS - France rugby coach Bernard Laporte, who was yesterday named as French sports minister following the World Cup later this year, said his priority was to win the event.

Laporte, who is close to newly elected French president Nicolas

Sarkozy, told AFP: "My priority is to win the World Cup and all my

energy will go into that."

France hosts the world event from September 7 to October 20.

 

SYDNEY - Australia lock Nathan Sharpe threw down the gauntlet to

the in-form Springboks yesterday, saying South Africa were

over-confident and the Wallabies would relish playing them on home

turf.

 

Sharpe said he was pleased with Australia's performance during a

22-19 loss to South Africa in the Tri Nations series opener in Cape

Town Saturday, when predictions the Wallabies' pack would crumble

proven mistaken.

 

The second rower said the Australian pack had been fired up by a

perceived lack of respect from South Africa and was keen to improve

for the return match against the Springboks in Sydney on July

7.

 

DURBAN - All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made eight changes to

his team for Saturday's Tri-Nations Test with South Africa here at

Absa Stadium.

 

The New Zealanders arrived in the country on Monday morning and

Henry wasted little time in confirming his line-up for the second

Tri-Nations Test of the season.

 

The All Blacks are coming off a 64-13 win over Canada, while

Jake White's Springboks had to come from behind to down the

Australians 22-19 in Cape Town last weekend.

 

Henry has picked his strongest team of the year after

experimenting somewhat against France and Canada.

 

Among the backs, Isaia Toeava reclaims the No 13 jersey from

Luke McAlister, while up front there are several changes, with the

new-look front row of Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver and Tony Woodcock

the most significant.

 

South African born lock Greg Rawlinson has been favoured to Ross

Filipo, who started last week, and he'll join Troy Flavell in the

second row.

 

The back row has also got a familiar look about it with Jerry

Collins returning to the side of the scrum and Rodney So'oialo

taking over at No 8.

 

Nampa-Reuters-AFP

 

France hosts the world event from September 7 to October 20.SYDNEY

- Australia lock Nathan Sharpe threw down the gauntlet to the

in-form Springboks yesterday, saying South Africa were

over-confident and the Wallabies would relish playing them on home

turf.Sharpe said he was pleased with Australia's performance during

a 22-19 loss to South Africa in the Tri Nations series opener in

Cape Town Saturday, when predictions the Wallabies' pack would

crumble proven mistaken.The second rower said the Australian pack

had been fired up by a perceived lack of respect from South Africa

and was keen to improve for the return match against the Springboks

in Sydney on July 7.DURBAN - All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made

eight changes to his team for Saturday's Tri-Nations Test with

South Africa here at Absa Stadium.The New Zealanders arrived in the

country on Monday morning and Henry wasted little time in

confirming his line-up for the second Tri-Nations Test of the

season.The All Blacks are coming off a 64-13 win over Canada, while

Jake White's Springboks had to come from behind to down the

Australians 22-19 in Cape Town last weekend.Henry has picked his

strongest team of the year after experimenting somewhat against

France and Canada.Among the backs, Isaia Toeava reclaims the No 13

jersey from Luke McAlister, while up front there are several

changes, with the new-look front row of Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver

and Tony Woodcock the most significant.South African born lock Greg

Rawlinson has been favoured to Ross Filipo, who started last week,

and he'll join Troy Flavell in the second row.The back row has also

got a familiar look about it with Jerry Collins returning to the

side of the scrum and Rodney So'oialo taking over at No

8.Nampa-Reuters-AFP

---