Officials call time on abuse of blood-injury laws

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Jones ready to make England pay for gamble

Any thoughts England or Australia may have had of playing fast and loose with the substitution regulations at Twickenham tomorrow have been well and truly spiked by delegates on the International Rugby Board. Not before time, the governing body of the world game has declared a 15-minute limit on blood-bin treatments, effective from this weekend – a move that should put an end to the charade of non-existent cuts, blood capsules and all manner of other tactical jiggery-pokery.

"The replacement system for blood injuries is open to abuse, hence the decision to reinstate a time limit," said Allan Hosie, the former Test referee from Scotland who chairs the IRB's laws committee. In recent seasons, coaches have withdrawn tired players under the pretence of being cut – a deliberate nick with a scalpel or a handily concealed capsule would do the trick - and return them to the fray, as fresh as daisies, anything up to an hour later. As of now, that particular option is history.

The IRB has also issued a statement re-emphasising their commitment to the tackle law that prevents players entering a breakdown situation from the side. If Paddy O'Brien, the New Zealand official who controls tomorrow's Cook Cup Test, takes the message on board, the two open-side flankers, Neil Back and George Smith, could concede penalties by the gross.

Northampton's Tom Smith will captain Scotland for the first time when Tonga visit Murrayfield tomorrow. Smith, who has started six consecutive Lions Tests at loose-head prop, will oversee two new caps in Gordon Ross, the Edinburgh stand-off, and Andrew Mower, the Australian-born back-rower from Newcastle. With Gregor Townsend, Budge Pountney, Chris Paterson, Bryan Redpath, Gordon Simpson and Simon Taylor all injured, there are seven changes, one of them positional, to the side that spiked Ireland's Grand Slam ambitions in September.

The Italian centre Cristian Stoica has left Gloucester for the French club Castres. Stoica made only six competitive starts since joining the West Countrymen in the summer.