A round-up of today’s other rugby stories in brief
SUMMER signing EzraTaylor is poised to start his first game for Connacht this weekend since suffering a knee ligament injury on the opening day of the season.
The 27-year old suffered the injury in the superb 40-17 win over the Dragons in September and finally recovered to come off the bench against Leinster at the weekend.
The Australian is now in contention for a starting berth as Connacht head to Italy this weekend to take on Benetton Treviso on Saturday evening. Coach Eric Elwood is delighted that the big number eight is back in contention as they bid for their first win in four Magners League game’s.
“He got 18 minutes or so under his belt last weekend. He probably came back a little bit early to be honest, but he was keen and we put him on the bench.
“You just need to build confidence with those kind of injuries and he has got that now and he is most keen to go again this week,” said Elwood.
ALASDAIR Strokosch hasbeen ruled out of Scotland's squad for next month's autumn Tests against New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa. The 27-year-old Gloucester flanker is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks after damaging knee ligaments in the closing stages of his club's Premiership match with Harlequins at the weekend. Strokosch won his 17th cap for the Scots on the summer tour of Argentina.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “We wish Alasdair a speedy recovery.
“We may yet draft another player into the squad for our training camp in St Andrews next week and we’ll discuss that after the matches this weekend.”
Scotland play New Zealand on November 13th and then face South Africa on November 20th at Murrayfield, before concluding their autumn schedule against Samoa on November 27th at Pittodrie.
Martin Johnson hasdecided to release captain Lewis Moody for English Premiership duty this weekend — but he is not taking a risk with Toby Flood.
The Leicester fly-half, who started both England’s Tests on the tour of Australia, has played just one full game for the Tigers since suffering knee ligament damage on the opening weekend of the season.
Johnson always seemed likely to keep Flood in cotton wool ahead of England’s opening international against New Zealand on November 6th — but the injury concerns surrounding Jonny Wilkinson made that certain.
Wilkinson reported to England’s pre-autumn training camp with a shoulder injury which is causing enough concern for Charlie Hodgson to be retained alongside Flood in the training squad.
