Rowing: 'Super eight' test adds to international challenge for British team

The appearance of a "super eight" that contains oarsmen who rank one-to-six in Britain's squad at the second 2007 World Cup regatta here is more than a bit of fun. Designed by the chief coach Jürgen Grobler to divert attention from the dominant coxless four and the rampant new pair of Colin Smith and Matt Langridge, it also puts the true British eight on their mettle if the presence of the German eight and the first appearance of an Australian crew fail to do so.

The super eight is stroked by the Olympic gold medallist from the four, Steve Williams, while the GB eight has one change after its fifth place in the first Cup round in Linz, Tom Parker coming in for Jonno Devlin. Devlin is now in a coxless pair with Kieran West.

Amsterdam has a strong entry, exemplified by the single sculls in which Alan Campbell comes up against world champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand for the first time this season. Olympic champion Olaf Tufte and winner of the first round Ondrej Synec are also among the entry.

Sculling crews are unchanged and include the women's quad who are Cup leaders as well as world champions. The lightweight double scullers Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter have another chance against the world champions Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Quist of Denmark.