Autumn Internationals: Kevin Sinfield attempts to strike gold for Leeds Rhinos

Ten years ago Kevin Sinfield would have been forgiven for fearing he would never strike gold, but a chance meeting with Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley set the wheels in motion for the Leeds Rhinos captain to try to get his hands on precious metal at Wembley on Saturday.

I look back now and think it happened for a reason. Perhaps at the start I needed lows to help me along the way. At the time it was the most difficult thing to have happened to me in my life. Looking back and putting it into perspective helped me as a rugby player and a person. You learn so much from the bad times as well as the good ones.

There are whole arrays of different things that have happened to me such as losing Challenge Cup final and Grand Finals but that’s part and parcel of sport, Sinfield said.

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Since Murrayfield, Sinfield, 29, has inspired Leeds to four Super League Grand Final successes and two World Club Challenge titles but the Challenge Cup has remained beyond his grasp.

Many have bounced back and done equally good if not better things. The response from rugby league players in general when they have faced adversity is very positive.

They are difficult times but you have to be resilient and prove people wrong. When you are not picked you tend to question yourself more. But do not get me wrong I am not unique. This happens to rugby league players all the time.

I believe everything happens for a reason and for whatever reason I have not been able to get my hands on the Challenge Cup and we will perform as well as we can to put that right but if it does not happen for whatever reason, he said before trailing off. I live my life like that. Things happen. Circumstances appear and opportunities happen because they are supposed to.

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I understand why people say it is the missing piece in the jigsaw and I am aware of what the fans think because they tell me every time they see me but the important thing is that we focus on the game because if we take our focus off we will be beaten, Sinfield said.

That philosophy is probably something drilled into me since I became a professional because the life as a sportsman is very much a roller coaster. You have fantastic moments you would not even dream about but there are real low moments when you think.

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Warren Gatland ready to shake up Wales’ selection for Samoa Test

Rugby Correspondent SIMON ROBERTS expects Warren Gatland to gamble again for Wales’ Samoa test

WARREN GATLAND has a reputation for making bold selections as Wales coach.

The New Zealander, who masterminded Wales’ Grand Slam in 2008, is not afraid to take a calculated gamble when it comes to team selection.

But can we expect him to do the same for Wales’ clash with Samoa at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night?

Gatland’s decision to select 13 Ospreys for his first game in charge for the 2008 Six Nations opener against England resulted in Wales’ first victory at Twickenham for 20 years.He was widely criticised for the move but it proved to be a masterstroke and set Wales up for a second Six Nations clean sweep in four years.

Gatland’s gambling instincts were on view again 12 months ago when Wales emerged with a low-key 34-13 victory over Canada in Cardiff.

Ditto last March when Gatland made nine changes for the Six Nations trip to Italy, Wales edging home 20-15 in Rome.

Gatland was widely accused of throwing away the Six Nations title with that selection but the Kiwi has always had his sights on the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

All three selection gambles ended in victory, but does Gatland do the same against Samoa?

Or does he pick the same side which lost to New Zealand en bloc just to get a morale-boosting win?

Gatland is a born winner but, with the World Cup only a couple of years away, he knows he must add to the depth of his current squad.

That is why it is a pretty safe bet that a host of the young guns named in his 28-man squad for the Autumn Test series will get the nod today.

Yet this Samoa side are not to be taken lightly. The perception that they are a side Wales should
be beating at the drop of a hat is arrogance beyond belief.Most of their best players are scattered across the top sides in Europe and should not be underestimated.

They have travelled to Wales with a squad full of northern hemisphere-based players and will include Seilala Mapusua and George Stowers in their line-up, even if a third London Irish star, the powerful wing Sailosi Tagicakibau, will be missing.

In their original 27-man squad there were 10 players from England’s Guinness Premiership, five based in France and Glasgow’s Justin Va’a. The rest play in New Zealand or Samoa.

What they lack in organisation and time to really bring a side together, they make up with sheer passion for the Samoan jersey.

There is the added emotional dimension of this being the first game played by Samoa since the tsunami there at the end of September, which wiped out whole villages and left the death toll at 100 and rising.

Samoans are a proud and emotional people and they won’t be playing against Wales, but for those who lost their lives back home.

Gatland, as a coach, knows how important emotion is at Test level and he will be wary of Samoa’s extra incentive on Friday.

But his primary focus will be on Wales and seeing what he has coming through the system behind his frontline players.

He will also be under no illusions that selecting an inexperienced side against the tough-tackling Samoans could be yet another gamble.

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Scotland's rugby team given a make-over by Andy Robinson

Head coach Robinson – who succeeded Frank Hadden this summer – has selected just five of those who started March's RBS Six Nations Championship defeat to England for his first match in charge against Fiji on Saturday. "The guys that haven't been selected that are on the bench, they've got an impact to make as well. It's about the whole squad and how that works."

Asked if the team represented the Robinson blueprint going forward, he replied: "It's a team to play Fiji and win the game and the key for us is that we understand that rugby is a physical game; you have to win the collisions, you have to establish a go-forward.

"But it's also to be able to have the skill levels to open up the spaces.

"I'd like to think that we've got the balance there in the 22 to be able to deliver that."

The Scarlets and Wales back row forward Dafydd Jones will undergo surgery on Tuesday on the shoulder injury he suffered against New Zealand on Saturday.

Jones, who came on as a second-half replacement for Andy Powell, sprung his A/C joint and will ultimately miss the rest of the four-match series in Cardiff. He is also likely to be out of action until the new year, at the earliest.

The injury means 21 year-old Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate is certain to make his debut against Samoa on Friday with coach Warren Gatland likely to make wholesale changes after the 19-12 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks.

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Jeremy Guscott | Six Nations

Jeremy Guscott Q&A
Former England and Lions star Guscott is a BBC rugby union pundit

The autumn internationals are in full swing, and it's been a depressing start for the northern hemisphere with both England and Wales falling to defeat in their opening matches.With seven defeats from 12 Tests, England boss Martin Johnson and his coaching set-up comes in for particular scrutiny, while Wales' latest near miss is also up for discussion. Other topics include former Australia star Lote Tuqiri's arrival in the Premiership, the absence of Saracens players from the England squad and the perils of signing autographs. If you have a

question for Jerry, you can submit it by using the form in the top right-hand corner of the page. He will answer as many as possible next week.

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Injured Jones in Six Nations race

MARK Jones is facing a Six Nations fitness race after he was ruled out of rugby for at least three months.

The Scarlets captain has undergone keyhole surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee following an injury sustained in training with Wales last week.

Jones has been told he will not be back in action until at least the start of February, putting a major doubt over his participation in the Six Nations.

It is the latest in a long line of injury setbacks for Wales coach Warren Gatland, who is already without the services of Mike Phillips, Lee Byrne, Adam Jones and Ian Evans.

And it is a major blow for the Scarlets ahead of their Heineken Cup encounters with reigning European champions Leinster next month.

The region's head coach Nigel Davies said: "It is very disappointing for Mark at this particular time. It's one of the curses of modern-day rugby unfortunately. It is a hugely physical sport and these boys train intensively on a daily basis.

"However, Mark is one of the most positive players I know in terms of coming back from injury. He deals with these setbacks more positively than most people. He's been a huge asset for us already this season in his role as captain, is totally respected by all the players and leads by example.

"Mark will be back with us in a week or so for his physio treatment. Despite the injury, I know he will continue to play a key leadership and motivational role off the field with the players."

Australia bask in victory over England at Twickenham

Australia bask in victory over England at Twickenham


It's been grim down Australia's way on the rugby front, having been battered black and blue by New Zealand and South Africa this season. Little wonder then that few gave the Wallabies - minus a few injured stars themselves, lest we forget - a chance against England at Twickenham. Even less wonder that Monday's papers back home were reams of joy and praise.

Australia's win over England in six nation would boost confidence ahead of Sunday's crunch clash with Ireland - seen as potentially the most difficult leg of their four-match grand slam bid - newspapers agreed down under.

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Australia's rugby press were more optimistic of the Wallabies' grand slam hopes after dominating England. "The importance of this win cannot be over-estimated," The Sydney Morning Herald said.

"It will revitalise their spirits, intensify their belief, and give the young players an important boost of self-confidence when they come up against the marauding Irish at Croke Park."

The press also praised heavily-under-fire coach Robbie Deans for bringing off his bold selection punt of Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane as his centre pairing.

"The coach took an enormous gamble with Cooper and Ioane," the Herald said. "If the move had backfired, the repercussions would have been enormous. But both players stepped up to produce inspirational performances, with Cooper a crucial member of the team's impenetrable defence."

The Australian described the midfield pair as "accidental heroes". "Had it not been for the tour-ending injuries suffered by Stirling Mortlock and Berrick Barnes over the past week, the Wallabies would have employed a fairly conventional back division for their tour.

"Deans was forced to roll the dice with Cooper and Ioane as his centre pairing and they came up as winners, both individually and as a threatening midfield combination."

The Daily Telegraph said the grand slam quest was up and running but warned that Six Nations champions Ireland would be a sterner test than the 'old enemy' England.

"There is no other way but to storm Croke Park against Brian O'Driscoll's Irishmen. "

Jonny will give Autumn internationals a good Twicking

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Jonny will give Aussies a good Twicking
ENGLAND'S coaches are backing a reborn Jonny Wilkinson to terrify Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Wilkinson, back to his best since his move to Toulon, is making his first appearance at HQ since coming on as a sub against Ireland in March 2008 in Six Nations.

He is the man the Wallabies fear most - just the memories of his rugby World Cup final performance against them in 2003 and quarter-final impact in 2007, sends shudders through Aussie bones.

England attack coach Brian Smith said: "Jonny is a real factor in this game. He is lethal as a points-scorer, he is a general and his distribution is phenomenal.

"He is one good reason why Pommie bashing in Australia is a thing of the past.

"What England achieved there six years ago earned enormous respect throughout the Aussie nation."

And defence coach Mike Ford added: "Jonny is the best tackler in the squad - and that includes our back-row. In his desire to cover every position on the field, the lad has very few betters.

"Jonny's technique is first-class, as is his dedication and professionalism."

Meanwhile, manager Martin Johnson insists there will be no repeat of the 'yellow peril' that undermined England's ambitions last season.

His side had no fewer than 11 players sin-binned during their three autumn Tests and five in the Six Nations.

But Johnson is convinced having RFU referee Wayne Barnes working with his squad daily will help eradicate their problems at the contact area, where most offences occurred.

Johnson said: "I really hope our yellow card problems are behind us because it is harder to win games with only 14 players.

"It's all about adapting to the referee and sticking to our game-plan.

"I have already spoken with Saturday's ref Bryce Lawrence and we discussed various areas where I sought some clarification. But what we discussed remains confidential."

Fly-half Wilkinson, 30, and the world-record Test points scorer with 1,032, will partner Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care in a new-look England.

One that has been forged by a combination of injuries and Johnson's desire to develop the next generation.

Johnson signalled his blueprint last night when he sent 10 members of his 32-man Elite Player Squad back to their clubs for domestic weekend duties.

Out go George Chuter, Mathew Tait, Nick Kennedy, David Barnes, Ben Foden, David Strettle, Ben Kay, Richard Wigglesworth, Steffon Armitage and Joe Worsley.

The remaining 22, however, face a serious challenge at Twickenham.

Johnson warned: "Australia have beaten world champions South Africa this year and they come to us battle-hardened after the Tri-Nations now in Six Nations.

"I have no doubts about the severity of our task because Australia have some new young bloods on board and huge self-belief.

"We took it easy in training last week because of the growing injury situation.

"But you cannot afford that luxury in the week building up to an international. You have to get the balance right which is why we have trained with intensity and speed.

"I delayed naming the team by 24 hours to allow some players extra time to recover.

"Dylan Hartley, for example, tweaked a hamstring and while I'm sure he'll be fine, it's important to be 100 per cent sure."

Johnson lost 13 of his original EPS 32 to injury, including Harry Ellis, Phil Vickery, Delon Armitage, Andrew Sheridan and Riki Flutey.

Which is why a new-look England will carry a nation's hopes as they run out in front of 82,000 at Twickenham on Saturday.


AUSTRALIA tuned up for the clash with a 36-5 win at Guinness Premiership outfit Gloucester last night.

But they were given a thorough examination by an unheralded Cherry and Whites side.


First-half tries by centres Ryan Cross and Tyrone Smith put the Wallabies on their way.

Then wing Drew Mitchell's late double and a Quade Cooper solo score finished the home side off.

Aussie head coach Robbie Deans, who has seen his side lose five of their last six Tests, promised the Wallabies will take the battle to England up front this weekend.

He said: "Gloucester showed a lot of spirit but we won the game at the breakdown, where it was a ferocious contest. The game against England will be just the same, so that was a very satisfactory exercise for us."

Freddie Burns scored Gloucester's only points with a 25th-minute try.