Richter to lead South Africa

South Africa and Romania have both made changes for their Group A match at Newlands, Cape Town today. The hosts rest 11 of the side which defeated Australia in the opening game, while Romania will feature a new half-back pairing.

For South Africa, only wingers James Small and Pieter Hendriks reappear in the same positions they held in the 27-18 win over Australia. The captaincy goes to the No 8, Adriaan Richter.

The Romanians have dropped their first choice half-backs Daniel Neaga and Neculai Nichitean; Vasile Flutur and Ilie Ivanciuc have been brought in. Tiberiu Brinza returns as captain.

Australia, who meet Canada in the other Group A match, in Port Elizabeth tomorrow, have named Tim Horan at centre for his first international in over 18 months. Prior to shattering his knee in the Super 10 final playing for Queensland against Natal in Durban last May, Horan was regarded as the leading centre-threequarter in the world. Australia have also named the New South Wales utility forward, Daniel Manu, as a replacement for the injured Troy Coker in their squad.

ROMANIA (v South Africa, Cape Town, today): V Brici (Farul Constanta); L Colceriu (Steaua Bucharest), N Racean, R Gontineac (both Cluj Univ), G Solomie (Timisoara Univ); I Ivanciuc (Stinta Petrosani), V Flutur (Cluj Univ); G Leonte (Vienne, Fr), I Negreci (CFR Constanta), G Vlad, S Ciorascu (Auch, Fr), C Cojocariu (Bayonne, Fr), A Guranescu, T Brinza (Cluj Univ, capt), A Gealapu (Steaua Bucharest).

SOUTH AFRICA: G Johnson (Transvaal); J Small (Natal), C Scholtz (Transvaal), B Venter (Orange Free State), P Hendriks; H Le Roux, J Roux (all Transvaal); G Pagel (Western Province), C Rossouw (Transvaal), M Hurter (Northern Transvaal), K Wiese (Transvaal), K Otto, R Kruger (both Northern Transvaal), A Richter (Northern Transvaal, capt), R Brink (Western Province).

AUSTRALIA (v Canada, Port Elizabeth, tomorrow): M Burke; D Campese (both New South Wales), J Little, T Horan (both Queensland), J Roff (ACT); M Lynagh (Queensland, capt), P Slattery (Queensland); T Daly, P Kearns, M Hartill, W Waugh (all New South Wales), J Eales (Queensland), W Ofahengaue (New South Wales), I Tabua (Queensland), T Gavin (New South Wales).

CANADA: S Stewart (University of British Colombia); W Stanley (UBC), C Stewart (UBC), S Gray (Vancouver Kats), D Lougheed (Toronto Welsh); G Rees (Oak Bay, capt), J Graf (UBC); E Evans (UBC), K Svoboda (Ajax Wanderers), R Snow (Dogs), M James (Burnaby Lake), G Rowlands (Velox Valhallians), J Hutchinson (UBC), A Charron (Ottawa Irish), G MacKinnon (Britannia Lions).