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Harleqluins wing Luger makes England debut against Holland¶

by Terry Cooper¶
HARLEQUINS wing Dan Luger is England's latest new cap for their World Cup qualifier against Holland in Huddersfield on Saturday.¶
Luger, the son of a Croatian father and Czech mother but born in Chiswick, said: ''I am a West Londoner and English.''¶
He joins the team for the expected walkover match against the Dutch, for which England are stripped of appointed captain Lawrence Dallaglio, who will also miss the second World Cup game against the land of his father when his country play the Italians on Sunday week.¶
Martin Johnson, who deputises for Dallaglio as leader, has four other Leicester players in his pack, and England's forwards have not been so dominated by one club since Harlequins supplied five to the World Cup final front eight in 1991.¶
Luger was booked to go on England's tour of Argentina last year but explained: ''I bust my knee's cruciate ligament in February 1997 and was out for 10 months.¶
''I came back to Harlequins just in time to be on the spot for Will Carling's retirement from rugby that occurred suddenly at the start of this year.¶
''When I came to the club, Will and players like Jerry Guscott and Rory Underwood had been my idols."¶ Luger's mother Tina and father Darko knew nothing about rugby before their son took an interest but now they watch him at every opportunity.¶
Their son retains his loyalty to the country where his father was born to the extent of having travelled to watch Croatia in France in the World Cup soccer finals last summer.¶
But he has never seriously considered extending his allegiance to playing for the Croatian national rugby team.¶
Luger admits he has entered the England team by the back door.¶
''If you are in the squad you always hope, but I realise that people like David Rees and Tony Underwood might be ahead of me.''¶
However, Rees and Underwood are both injured, and England's wings will comprise uncapped Luger and Austin Healey, who plays scrum-half for Leicester, but is a proven Test wing.¶
England coach Clive Woodward, who decided to finalise Test selection 48 hours before his flexible schedule deadline, said: ''Luger, Matt Perry and Rees were the outstanding players when I was under-21 coach five seasons ago.¶
''I have named Dan ahead of Tom Beim and Spencer Brown, while Austin is outstanding. You have to make changes if injuries occur, and these have been made because of the current circumstances.''¶
Leicester forward Martin Corry wins his third cap after a couple of Tests with England's second-string team in Argentina last year - even though last season's number eights Richard Hill and Tony Diprose would have been available to take Dallaglio's place.¶
Matt Dawson, England's captain on their summer tour, is retained because scrum-half Kyran Bracken hurt his back in training yesterday.¶
Dawson links with his Northampton club half-back partner Paul Grayson.¶

ENGLAND: M Perry (Bath); A Healey (Leicester), W Greenwood (Leicester), J Guscott (Bath), D Luger (Harlequins); P Grayson (Northampton), M Dawson (Northampton); J Leonard (Harlequins), R Cockerill (Leicester), D Garforth (Leicester), G Archer (Newcastle), M Johnson (Leicester), B Clarke (Richmond), M Corry (Leicester), N Back (Leicester).¶
Replacements: N Beal (Northampton), P de Glanville (Bath), M Catt (Bath), G Rowntree (Leicester), P Greening (Sale), T Rodber (Northampton), R Hill (Saracens).¶
Four other squad members for the World Cup qualifiers against Holland and Italy: T Beim (Sale), W Green (Wasps), A Diprose (Saracens), D Grewcock (Saracens).

Babb and Breen included¶

by Bill George¶
CENTRE-BACKS Phil Babb (Liverpool) and Gary Breen (Coventry City) were, yesterday, both included in the Republic of Ireland squad for next week's European Championship tie in Yugoslavia, even though they are not fit.¶Babb has shaken off the effects of the injury he received when he crashed into the upright at Anfield in a match against Chelsea on October 4.¶
Babb has not played since, but was in the squad for last night's League Cup encounter against Tottenham Hotspurs.¶
This hardly constitutes sufficient match practice prior to a European Championship tie of such importance as next week's game in Belgrade.¶
However, Babb's inclusion and that of Breen reflects the shortage of specialist centre-backs available to Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.¶
Breen damaged ankle ligaments while helping Coventry City beat Blackburn 2-1 at the weekend and travelled to Brighton for a consultation with a specialist on Monday.¶
He suffered the injury in the first-half of the match, but played on until he was eventually forced off after 53 minutes.¶
McCarthy's desire to keep both of them in the squad is understandable given the shortage of the Ireland boss.¶ Mick McCarthy has named a 20-man squad for tomorrow week's rearranged Group Eight European Championship tie against Yugoslavia in Belgrade.¶
With McCarthy deciding to invoke the five-day rule on the release of players for competitive international games, none of the squad will be available to their clubs for this weekend's programme of Premiership and First Division games.¶
Instead they will assemble in Dublin for a first training session on Friday night. ''I have spoken to managers such as Alan Curbishley (Charlton), Peter Reid (Sunderland) and Ruud Gullit (Newcastle), while Tottenham Hotspurs assistant boss Chris Hughton has also been in touch,'' said McCarthy.¶
''They have been fine about it. I think they all accept they would do the same if they were in my position.¶
''No manager actually rang me but I have spoken to a few of them personally.¶
''It would have been remiss of me not to invoke the five-day rule as this is such an important game for Ireland.'' The match was originally scheduled for October 10, but was postponed because of the threat of NATO bombardments of military installations in the Belgrade area.¶ With the easing of tensions in the Kosovo province, UEFA last week gave the go-ahead for the fixture on November 18.¶
Liverpool provide three players to McCarthy's squad including Babb, who has not played for four weeks after his injury.¶
Babb missed last month's 5-0 victory over Malta, when the injured Norwich striker Keith O'Neill was also ruled out.¶ This time, injuries rob McCarthy of teenage Wolverhampton Wanderers' striker Robbie Keane and Derby midfielder Lee Carsley, while Tottenham defender Stephen Carr and Wimbledon winger Mark Kennedy are dropped.¶
Wolves striker David Connolly, scorer of four goals in Saturday's 6-1 victory over Bristol City, returns after serving a two-match suspension.¶
Bradford midfielder Gareth Whalley is one of two uncapped players in the squad.¶
Bury's Dean Kiely keeps his place as cover for first choice keeper Shay Given, even though Sheffield United's Alan Kelly is back playing for his club after two months sidelined by an ankle injury.¶
With maximum points from their two opening games against Croatia and Malta, the Republic of Ireland are top of the Group Eight table, level on points with Croatia, who have played an extra game and have an inferior goal difference.¶

Republic of Ireland squad: Given (Newcastle Utd), Kiely (Bury), Irwin (Manchester Utd), Kenna (Blackburn), Staunton (Liverpool), Harte (Leeds Utd), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Babb (Liverpool), Breen (Coventry), Keane (Manchester Utd), Kinsella (Charlton), McLoughlin (Portsmouth), McAteer (Liverpool), Duff (Blackburn) Whalley (Bradford), Cascarino (Nancy), Quinn (Sunderland), Delap (Derby), Connolly (Wolves), O'Neill (Norwich).¶

Three-match Euro tour after gruelling season will test Aussies

AUSTRALIA MAY have put England and Scotland to the sword this year and humiliated New Zealand to win back the Bledisloe Cup, but the real test of their World Cup chances comes with this month's European tour.¶
The Wallabies, rejuvenated under coach Rod Macqueen, leave today for a three-match tour backed up by nine wins from 11 internationals this year and ranked second only to World Cup holders South Africa in world rugby.¶
But the gruelling season has taken its toll and the Wallabies, who meet England at Twickenham on November 28, fly out minus seven top-line players, all victims of the demands of crammed international fixture lists.¶
Macqueen is taking away a decidedly under-strength squad following the loss of Matthew Burke, Ben Tune, Tim Horan, Damian Smith, Stirling Mortlock, Dan Crowley and Richard Harry.¶
But the internationals against France - in Paris on November 21 - and England will give Macqueen the opportunity to gauge the depth of Australian rugby.¶
Full-back Chris Latham, winger Scott Staniforth, centre Nathan Grey, fly-half Manuel Edmonds and prop Glenn Panoho get their opportunity at international level one year ahead of the World Cup in Britain and France.¶
Macqueen has already showed his hand by selecting Latham, Grey and Panoho in Sunday's game against France A in Lille. ''We want to win, but from our point of view it's a good opportunity to look at our options and a chance for our younger players and see how they perform,'' said Macqueen.¶
''Our priority is still the World Cup next year and this is a chance to blood some of our younger players.''¶
Australia's last outing was their 25-13 win over Samoa on September 26, and Macqueen added: ''It's not an ideal situation coming off such a long break, but it's a good chance for some of the new players to get some experience.''¶
This is a stronger Wallabies team than that which lost five of 15 internationals last year, mainly under coach Greg Smith.¶
Under Macqueen, Australian rugby has taken giant leaps this year with their 3-0 Bledisloe Cup triumph over the All Blacks and a record 76-0 slaughter of a weakened England side in Brisbane last June.¶
The forwards remain largely unchanged and although the experience of tighthead Crowley will be missed, Macqueen gets his chance to pit former Argentinian international Patricio Noriega into his side.¶
It will be in the backs where Australia are potentially vulnerable. With Burke, Horan and Tune missing from this tour, Macqueen will have fill the gaps with largely untried talent.¶
Latham and Grey have the ability to progress while replacement Jason Little is a veteran of 56 Tests and scored five tries on the wing in Australia's successful World Cup qualifiers against Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in September. Australia will find England a far tougher proposition at Twickenham
after the shambles last June when they were predictably humiliated.¶

Eleven of that Wallaby team remains, but significantly not matchwinners Burke, Tune and Horan.¶
The responsibility will fall on Stephen Larkham, who was man-of-the-match in his first against England last June with a hat-trick of tries, half-back George Gregan, skipper John Eales and centre Daniel Herbert to give Australia a winning platform.¶
Squad: C Latham, J Little, D Herbert, N Grey, J Roff, S Staniforth, M Hardy, S Larkham, M Edmonds, G Gregan, C Whitaker, T Kefu, D Wilson, W Ofahengaue, B Robinson, M Cockbain, O Finegan, J Eales (capt), T Bowman, J Welborn, A Blades, C Blades, P Kearns, M Foley, G Panoho, P Noriega.¶

Duignan to make his Irish debut against Georgia

CONNACHT'S Pat Duignan will make his international debut against Georgia at Lansdowne Road on Saturday .
Canadian-born Duignan is the only new cap on the Ireland team when they start their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The 26-year-old Galwegians centre comes in on the back of a superb interprovincial campaign and will partner Ulster's Jonathan Bell in midfield.
The side shows five changes and one positional switch from that which lost 33-0 to South Africa in the second Test during the summer.
Peter Clohessy returns to the international arena when he starts his first game for Ireland at loose-head in place of Ulster's Justin Fitzpatrick who played in both tests against the Springboks.
Clohessy was switched from tight to loose-head this season as Munster sought to tighten up their scrum, and he has proved just as adept since his move and thoroughly deserved his call-up. Ross Nesdale takes over from Allan Clarke at hooker now that Keith Wood is still in dispute with the IRFU over the small print of his contract.
Lions number 8 Eric Miller also reappears in the back-row following an absence of over a year. But the Terenure ace, who turned out for Ulster against Connacht last month, returns at blindside forward in place of Sale's Dion O'Cuinneagain.
As expected Leinster's number 8 Victor Costello is in the middle of the back-row, while Ulster's Andy Ward is at openside. The engine room remains the same with Malcolm O'Kelly joining skipper Paddy Johns despite the obvious pressure looming large with the return of the enthusiastic Jeremy Davidson. Davidson is back in the big time after a horrific knee injury and the big French-based lock finds himself on the bench.
It was no surprise that coach Warren Gatland went for the Connacht pairing of Eric Elwood and Conor McGuinness at half-
back, now that the fly-half has recovered from the knee injury that has blighted his campaign.
With Duignan taking up one of the centre berths, Bath's Kevin Maggs moves to the left wing, while London Irish's Justin Bishop makes his home debut on the right following his introduction to international rugby in South Africa.
Conor O'Shea was the only real hard and fast candidate for full-
back as Gatland aims to use the game against Georgia as a learning process for some of his younger players.
The Irish coach has named the relatively inexperienced Leinster scrum-half Ciaran Scally on the bench. The Dublin student is joined by his provincial colleague Girvan Dempsey who will cover for full-back, centre or wing.
Duignan was obviously delighted with his call-up after finding his way to Galway three seasons ago when his Mayo-born parents moved to Australia in his early years.
"Obviously I'm absolutely thrilled," said Duignan, who played club rugby in Australia for Manly. "It's hard to take in, but it's a dream come true for me."
Gatland said: "Pat has distinguished himself all season, and his selection is fully merited. He's one of quickest centres around, and he just might add the cutting edge we need."
Manager Donal Lenihan has Georgia on his mind, but he said the team is not pre-occupied with them.
"We know very little about them. We know they have a very big pack. But with little knowledge of them, it will help us concentrate on our own game.
"Basically we are only thinking about the next two games. If we do well and win handsomely then we can look forward to meeting South Africa with confidence.
"We have had two good sessions so far up in the north, and the players are very anxious to do well. They know only too well they are playing for the position."
Not considered because of injury were Mark McCall, who will know of his future next Monday regarding a neck injury when he visits of neuro specialist, Alan Quinlan (shoulder), and, of course, Keith Wood, who is still in dispute with the IRFU over the small print in his contract.

IRELAND: C O'Shea (London Irish), J Bishop (London Irish), P Duignan (Galwegians), J Bell (Dungannon), K Maggs (Bath), E Elwood (Galwegians), C McGuinness (St Mary's); P Clohessy (Young Munster), Ross Nesdale (Newcastle), P Wallace (Saracens), P Johns (Saracens), M O'Kelly (London Irish), E Miller (Terenure), V Costello (St Mary's), A Ward (Ballynahinch).
Replacements: C Scally (UCD), D Humphreys (Dungannon), G Dempsey (Terenure), J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), A Clarke (Dungannon), D O'Cuinneagain (Sale), J Davidson (Castres).

Travel agency and fans in a sweat over Belgrade trip

by Bill George
THE Dublin travel agent handling the arrangements for Ireland's visit to Belgrade for the European Championship tie yesterday issued the following ultimatum to Yugoslavia authorities: "We want guarantees in writing or we cancel all arrangements."
Diplomatic telephone lines between Dublin, London and Belgrade were buzzing yesterday as pressure was brought to bear on the authorities in Yugoslavia to put their travel agreements in writing.
Chief cause of concern for the Treacy Travel company is that the re-scheduling of the game that was originally fixed for October 14 has meant visas issued to the travelling party have passed out of date.
The Yugoslavia authorities have agreed, however, to recognise the original visas and have waived any insistence on a re-application.
But the agreement was made over the telephone and so far repeated efforts by the Treacy Travel company to secure written confirmation of this agreement have failed.
"According to law it is the travel agent who is held solely responsible if somebody arrives at Belgrade airport with a visa that is not accepted," a spokesperson for the company said yesterday.
"We cannot afford to run the risk of having some officer or soldier at the airport saying he will not allow entry because the visa is out of date. That would be a disaster."
The Irish party is due to travel to Belgrade on Monday and the hotels in Belgrade that will house the Irish players, as well as media representatives and a small group of supporters, were yesterday demanding confirmation of all arrangements.
Likewise, Aer Lingus are putting pressure on the travel agency to tie up arrangements for the charter flight.
The agency requested the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin and they contacted the Irish Ambassador in London who, in turn, sought the assistance of the Yugoslav Ambassador there.
The fears of the travel agency officers were not eased by reports that two NBA basketball players from the USA who arrived in Belgrade last week to attend a major conference of basketball affiliates world-wide were sent back home because their visas were not accepted by the authorities.
Those people intending to join the FAI on the trip to Belgrade have been told that further taxes have been imposed by the Yugoslavia government on persons leaving the country.
Each Irish person in the party will pay £50 in taxes to the Yugoslavia Government for the privilege of going to the Euro 2000 qualifier.

Pickering to probe fight during Euro Cup clash

EUROPEAN CUP tournament director Roger Pickering last night deplored the violence that scarred last Saturday's clash between Ebbw Vale and Toulouse.
The French giants had a player sent off when trouble broke out on and off the pitch which led to local police officers having to restore order.
Pickering has asked Vale chief executive Ray Harris for a written report on the game before deciding whether to take any action. This along with a video recording of the game, could land Toulouse in hot water.
''I deplore the violence on the field and the events afterwards, and for people to blame the referee is unfair,'' said Pickering.
''The lack of discipline displayed and the fighting is not good for the game or competition.
''I've spoken with Ray Harris at Ebbw Vale and received a verbal explanation.
''I have asked him for a written report, which hopefully will be received today.
''I am also waiting for a video of the game and I have then got to make a judgement on whether to let the matter rest or pursue it further,'' Pickering added.
''If it is decided to pursue it, the disciplinary procedure says a recommendation must go to three directors of the ERC board, none of them from the countries of the two teams involved.
''They can call witnesses from both sides and it is up to them to make a decision.''
Toulouse were incensed by referee Ed Murray's handling of the game, which they lost 19-11 less than two months after beating the same opponents by 100 points.
Their French international prop Franck Tournaire was seen to approach touch judge Ken McCartney after the final whistle, while a policeman's helmet was knocked off.
Later in the evening, there was an incident in the Ebbw Vale clubhouse involving Toulouse players and officials, and Gwent Police were called to calm the situation along with club security staff.
European Cup chiefs slapped substantial fines on Pontypridd, Brive, Llanelli and Pau following incidents last season, seemingly setting a precedent from which 1996 Cup winners Toulouse could find no escape.

© Examiner Publications Ltd, 1998