Former Counties back to turn out for Tricolors

New Zealand's Tony Marsh will make his debut for France against South Africa in Paris on Sunday after being called up to replace the injured Xavier Garbajosa.

The former Counties Manukau second five-eighths and NZ Maori representative joined French club Montferrand during the 1998-99 season.

He can play for France under rules allowing players of foreign origin to play for countries where they have lived for at least three years, providing they have not played for the national team of any other country.

The 29-year-old has recovered from a muscle tear in his thigh which forced him out of club action for two weeks last month.

A different injury prevented him from playing in Montferrand's defeat against Toulouse in the final of the French championship in June.

Marsh's sudden call-up came after Garbajosa was forced to pull out with a strain in the left thigh.

"This is a dream come true," Marsh said. "I'd planned to go to Italy with the other Montferrand players to see the match against Fiji."

"A lot of people thought he [Marsh] should have been in the team in the first place," New Zealand-born journalist Ian Borthwick said in Paris.

"He's had a wonderful season which led to rugby followers here believing he would be in the French side this season without doubt."

Springboks coach Harry Viljoen went for experience over youth when he recalled winger Pieter Rossouw instead of Dean Hall, who has been compared with giant All Black Jonah Lomu.

Viljoen brought in just one new cap to the starting line-up in centre Trevor Halstead, who will link up with Braam van Straaten for the first time.

Their main injury worry is halfback Joost van der Westhuizen, who along with lock Mark Andrews is the sole survivor of the 1995 World Cup win.

Van der Westhuizen had to curtail his training with a left calf problem, but Viljoen was confident the 30-year-old would be fit.

He was visibly buoyed by the return to the fold of Andrews, who has missed the best part of a month with a calf injury which ruled him out of the Currie Cup semis and final.

"Mark is so important to us and is still the best in the business," Viljoen said.

He said he had opted for Rossouw, who will win his 41st cap, ahead of Hall because he brought extra flair to the backline, which he admitted was still a long way from the finished article.

* Australian coach Eddie Jones named an unchanged team to face England on Sunday and predicted the Twickenham test could be as close as their dramatic clash last year.

In contrast to England, who announced seven changes to their line-up on Wednesday, Jones kept faith with the side who beat Spain by a record 92-10 in Madrid last week.

The team, captained by halfback George Gregan, contain just two changes from the side who beat New Zealand to win the Tri-Nations on September 1.

The backs are the same, but lock Justin Harrison replaces retired captain John Eales and prop Ben Darwin comes in for Rod Moore, who is on the bench.

England won the last game between the two teams at Twickenham 22-19 after a dramatic late try. Jones said he was expecting another close, attacking game on Sunday.

"Most of the games now are won by a small number of points," he said. "I can't see this one being any different. England have made it quite clear that they want to play attacking rugby, and we hope to have a fast-flowing game."

* Cardiff wing Anthony Sullivan will win his first cap for Wales in Sunday's Millennium Stadium clash against Argentina.

The former rugby league star replaces Neath's Shane Williams, who was forced to withdraw because of a knee injury.

Sullivan's club team-mate Iestyn Harris, another union convert, will also make his test debut.

* Ireland coach Warren Gatland yesterday left captain and hooker Keith Wood on the bench ahead of Sunday's Lansdowne Rd international against Samoa.

Wood's omission from the starting XV is one of several changes from the side who beat England 20-14 in Dublin last month to end England's hopes of a Six Nations grand slam.

His place as captain is taken by Munster's Anthony Foley.

Fullback Girvan Dempsey, wing Denis Hickie, first five-eighth David Humphreys, loose forward David Wallace and lock Malcolm O'Kelly, who all played against England, are left out of the 22 because of various niggles.

With Ireland facing New Zealand in Dublin the following weekend, Gatland is trying to ensure he has the strongest side available for the visit of the All Blacks.

- AGENCIES