O'Kelly aims to erase pain of maulings by Pumas

Wyn Griffiths
Friday 22 November 2002 01:00 GMT
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Malcolm O'Kelly, the Ireland lock, believes thoughts of revenge can have a positive impact on his country's attempt to prevent a hat-trick of defeats against Argentina at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.

O'Kelly has twice been on the losing side against the Pumas, most painfully at the 1999 World Cup when the South Americans claimed a quarter-final spot. "You can be negative," he said. "Or you can look at it that we've developed as a side, so I'm really looking forward to playing well and seeing what it's like to beat them." Argentina have made one change from the side which beat Italy last weekend. The Castres prop Mauricio Reggiardo has regained his place in the front row at the expense of Roberto Grau.

Scotland are desperate to follow-up their historic win over South Africa with one over Fiji so they can avoid being tagged as one-hit wonders. History is littered with Scottish sides that have pulled off unexpected wins but failed to build on them. The prop forward Bruce Douglas said: "It wasn't something which had to be drilled home, we knew we had to back that result up again. The main thing is to pick ourselves up and get better with each game."

As expected, the Australia coach, Eddie Jones, has named Stirling Mortlock at full-back and Elton Flatley at fly-half for the Test against Italy in Genoa. The Wallabies have been ravaged by injury on this tour and Mortlock becomes the fifth player in as many Tests to wear the No 15 shirt.

Italy, Argentina teams,

Digest, page 31

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