Forget your fear of defeat, coach tells Wallabies

Eddie Jones has called on the Wallabies to forget the fear of losing and enjoy their game again, starting with tomorrow's test against France.

The Australian coach said yesterday that the pressure the world champions put on themselves to maintain their success forced them into a conservative shell which cost them last weekend's test against England. That fearful streak even took over the training paddock this week and Jones had to call the players in to urge them to relax and play their own expressive game, which was sorely absent at Twickenham.

"When we look back at our three worst performances of the year, we have played a similar way in each one - we were too conservative," Jones said.

If the Wallabies can handle their own pressure, and that from France and 65,000 fanatical local supporters in Marseille, some exciting rugby should be on offer, with French coach Bernard Laporte also ordering his players to express themselves.

* Wales coach Graham Henry could be forgiven for looking enviously at fellow New Zealander and Ireland counterpart Warren Gatland.

Anything less than a convincing win for Wales against Tonga in Cardiff tomorrow will add to Henry's woes after Millennium Stadium maulings by Argentina (30-16 last weekend) and Ireland (36-6 last month).

By contrast, Gatland can look forward to a Dublin date with the All Blacks safe in the knowledge that defeat will not lead to calls for his resignation following Ireland's spectacular Six Nations win over England last month.

But if it all goes wrong for Henry the calls for him to quit, already growing in Wales, are likely to grow stronger, although the cost of paying him off may deter the Welsh Rugby Union from sacking him.

The Argentina defeat led to the international retirement of Cardiff prop and Wales captain David Young.

No 8 Scott Quinnell will lead the side out, with former Great Britain rugby league international Iestyn Harris switched from five-eighths to centre following a disappointing debut against Argentina.

Tonga will not be there to make up the numbers as their second string proved in a 26-23 defeat against Wales A on Wednesday.

They are littered with players who ply their club trade in the unforgiving rugby atmosphere of New Zealand so, at the very least, Wales can look forward to a physical battle.

* Buoyant Italy clash with an experimental South African side in Genoa tomorrow, scenting the possibility of a historic feat.

South Africa, who spanked Italy 60-14 in Port Elizabeth four months ago, would be overwhelming favourites to defeat the Italians, who after two Six Nations campaigns have found the transition from the unofficial second division of world rugby to the higher echelon a difficult journey.

But after South Africa's 20-10 defeat against France, and with Italian confidence high after a 66-10 drubbing of Fiji at Treviso last weekend, there is just a whiff of a chance for Italy to claim what would be the biggest scalp in their history.

South Africa still start favourites, but are under no illusions that their task will be far more difficult than it was in Port Elizabeth where no fewer than 27 Italians declined to tour, many citing mystery ailments or work commitments.

This time Italy will be near full-strength and they will be cheered on by a noisy following at Genoa's Stadio Luigi Ferraris, where a near-40,000 crowd made a din in last year's 56-19 defeat by New Zealand.

Springbok coach Harry Viljoen, meanwhile, has rung the changes, bringing five players into his starting line-up.

"These changes must absolutely not be considered by the people left out as a failure," Viljoen said. "It's an experiment we have been planning for some time."

* In other games, England entertain Romania in what should be a one-sided romp at Twickenham, but Scotland will have to work hard against a difficult Argentine side in their international at Murrayfield.

France: C. Poitrenaud, A. Rougerie, T. Marsh, D. Traille, D. Bory, F. Michalak, F. Galthie (capt), P. Tabacco, O. Magne, S. Betsen, T. Privat, D. Auradou, P. De Villiers, R. Ibanez, J. J. Crenca. Reserves: C. Dominici, N. Jeanjean, F. Gelez, F. Ntamack, L. Nallet, J. B. Poux, Yannick Bru.

Australia: M. Burke, C. Latham, G. Bond, N. Grey, J. Roff, S. Larkham, G. Gregan (capt), T. Kefu, P. Waugh, O. Finegan, D. Giffin, J. Harrison, B. Darwin, M. Foley, N. Stiles. Reserves: B. Cannon, R. Moore, M. Cockbain, G. Smith, C. Whitaker, E. Flatley, B. Tune.

Wales: K. Morgan, G. Thomas, A. Bateman, I. Harris, A. Sullivan, S. Jones, R. Howley, S. Quinnell (capt), B. Sinkinson, C. Charvis, A. Moore, I. Gough, D. Morris, R. McBryde, I. Thomas. Reserves: B. Williams, S. John, C. Wyatt, G. Thomas, D. Peel, J. Robinson, R. Williams.

Tonga: T. Taufahema, D. Tiueti, S. Taumalolo, G. Leger, E. Taione, P. Hola, S. Martens, M. Te Pou, I. Afeaki (capt), N. Naufahu, V. Vaki, F. Fakaongo, T. Taumopeau, V. Massi, J. Pale. Reserves: T. Alatini, L. Lokotui, S. Tui'pulotu, S. Moimoi, T. Ao Filisi, A. Lutui, C. Hala'ufia.

Italy: L. Martin, M. Perziano, W. Pozzebon, C. Stoica, D. Dallan, D. Dominguez, A. Troncon, C. Checchinato, A. Persico, M. Bergamasco, V. Visser, M. Giacheri, A. Muraro, A. Moscardi (capt), A. Lo Cicero. Reserves: To be announced.

South Africa: C. Jantjes, B. Paulse, T. Halstead, B. van Straaten, D. Hall, L. Koen, J. van der Westhuizen, B. Skinstad (capt), J. van Niekerk, A. Vos, A. J. Venter, V. Matfield, W. Meyer, J. Smit, O. le Roux. Reserves: L. van Biljon, C. Visagie, A. Venter, C. Krige, D. De Kock, A. Jacobs, P. Montgomery.

- AGENCIES