Genia rates Wilkinson as 'one of the best', Autumn internationals news

Autumn internationals, Jonny Wilkinson could still issue as England's first choice fly half for the autumn internationals.
The 31 year old is part of Martin Johnson's side's recent tour of Australia and New Zealand and despite the rivalry which exists between the Aussies and the Poms, Will Genia has said he thinks Wilkinson is excellent enough to improve any team.
Back in 2003, Wilkinson landed the drop goal which saw off the Wallabies in the final of the World Cup and Australia scrum-half Genia believes the stand-off is still a particular player, even comparing him to New Zealand star Dan Carter.
"Any side he plays in they play better so I definitely still rate him up there as one of the best," the Queensland Reds player was quoted by AAP as saying. "He directs the team around on the field actuallywell with his passing and kicking game."
Despite the backing of Genia, Wilkinson faces stiff competition from the likes of Charlie Hodgson and Toby Flood for a place in the autumn internationals starting line-up.

Autumn international dates rescheduled by England.

England have revised their 2010 Autumn international schedule and will now begin their four-match series against New Zealand on 6 November. The fixture for the Hillary Shield had originally been fixed for 4 December but has been moved following a request from the All Blacks.

England will then play Australia, Samoa and the world champions South Africa in a packed autumn schedule. As a result of the fixture reshuffle, South Africa's game against the Barbarians will now be played on 4 December at Twickenham, a day earlier than previously scheduled.

Premier Rugby and the Professional Game Board confirmed the change after agreeing to move the England players' release period forward by a week. Although the original request came from the All Blacks, the new schedule of five Saturday matches, all with 2.30pm kick-offs, is ideal for the Rugby Football Union.

The RFU's business operations director, Paul Vaughan, said: "We're delighted that Premier Rugby Limited and the Professional Game Board have approved the change which completes a superb series of games at Twickenham Stadium this autumn.

England's autumn schedule:

6 November England v New Zealand (2.30pm)

13 November England v Australia (2.30pm)

20 November England v Samoa (2.30pm)

27 November England v South Africa (2.30pm)

Hungry France wait after Martin Johnson's England are held by Scotland

First the good news: by Saturday night the Six Nations will be over and England's dispiriting campaign will have been laid to rest in a shallow Parisian grave. No more worthy tripe dressed up as significant progress, no more fumbling for fresh adjectives to describe the same old dross. Even if England somehow stop France securing a grand slam, it will not elevate their season above the deeply mediocre.
For the world's richest union this is, once again, an uncomfortable place to be. Even Martin Johnson, to his credit, declined to spin the unspinnable. His team may have clung on to the Calcutta Cup with this barely deserved draw but they are trapped in a black hole creatively, as far removed from a revitalised world force as when Johnson took over. Avoiding defeat in another tryless exercise in futility – England's last try in Scotland came six years ago – is nothing to shout about.
Most worrying of all is that Johnson's men, challenged by him to outdo the Scots for energy, urgency, passion and emotion, could not do so. If the same happens at the Stade de France against opponents who ripped Italy to shreds yesterday, it will be carnage. "It can be a very long night in Paris if you don't get it right," said Johnson, looking as deflated as he has done in months. From somewhere he has to inject impetus and acknowledge that his side are worryingly short of real quality.
The issues go far beyond a temporary loss of confidence. The only area of the team which has shown up well in the past few weeks has been the scrummage, under Graham Rowntree's tutelage. If there is an English player of the championship it is Dan Cole, whose Test career is in its infancy. There is a moral there somewhere: rather than soldiering on with willing but limited club stalwarts and settling for damage limitation Johnson simply has to shed his innate selectorial caution. No one is suggesting he take half a dozen teenagers to Paris but the painful head knocks suffered by Jonny Wilkinson and Ugo Monye (happily neither suffered lasting damage) offer an excuse to experiment. Ben Foden and Chris Ashton should start and with Mathieu Bastareaud in mind there is a case for inviting Shontayne Hape to add some edge to England's midfield.

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Italy's autumn internationals for Mauro Bergamasco and Gonzalo Canale back

MILAN, Italy — Italy has called up flanker Mauro Bergamasco and centre Gonzalo Canale after initially fearing that the pair would miss Italy's autumn internationals.
Bergamasco has been out of action with an injured foot. Canale hurt his back playing for Clermont Auvergne in the last round of matches in the French league.
Both players are crucial to coach Nick Mallett's plans as mainstays in the Italy side. Bergamasco has 76 caps, while Canale's next will be his 50th.
Italy plays New Zealand in Milan on Nov. 14, world champion South Africa in Udine on Nov. 21 and Samoa in Ascoli on No 28.

Autumn internationals are time for European rugby nations to front up, Mick Cleary

Ireland and Wales must aim for a clean sweep, while England should win two from three in autumn internationals.

Mellow and fruitful, eh? That's not been the case for any of the national coaches as the autumn series of Tests have swung into view.
The upsurge of confidence that emanated from the Lions tour to South Africa has long since dissipated. The rugby has been ho-hum, stand-out individual performances few and far between and the injury toll a constant intrusion into best-laid plans.
But as a month-long fest kicks off with two seminal encounters on Saturday, as England take on Australia at Twickenham and Wales attempt again to lay the All Blacks ghost to rest in Cardiff, one thing is clear: it's time for the European nations to front up.
For Wales and Ireland, there are no get-out clauses. Anything less than a clean sweep would rate as a disappointment. Given that Wales have not beaten the All Blacks since 1953, that obligation might seem excessive. It isn't, because if not now, it might as well be never. True, there are a few injuries in the camp, and scrum-half Mike Phillips will be particularly missed, but nothing beyond the norm.
If the Lions are to have any relevance outside their immediate sphere, there has to be spin-off into occasions such as these. The Lions managed to rattle the Springboks with a scratch (top-quality) side and minimal preparation.
Wales have three of the Lions coaches, Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley, in their ranks. These men have no reason to accept second-class status, and nor should the players they send out at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The same will be true of Ireland when they get into action, notably against Australia and, in a rousing climax to November, South Africa: grand slam champions against world champions.
In finally delivering the goods last March after 61 years of underachievement, Ireland cannot afford to lapse now if they still reckon themselves to be genuine contenders for the World Cup two years' hence.
They have no cause to genuflect before either of the major southern hemisphere powers and have to begin with sharp purpose against the Wallabies at Croke Park on Sunday week.
Scotland, as ever, are obliged to make best use of slender resources, this time under former England coach Andy Robinson. He deserves any breaks on offer.
What then of injury-ravaged England? In fact, make that England. Ignore the injuries. England have so many players to choose from – far, far more than their opponents this Saturday – that there can be no refuge in passing inconvenience, all the more so now that manager Martin Johnson has some sort of handle on the medical welfare of his elite players.
They are rested at various times, they have designated training camps and enhanced lead-in time to Test matches.
Last week, Johnson's boss, Rob Andrew, said the England manager was safe in his job through to the 2011 World Cup. Johnson won't buy that sort of PR-speak.
On Monday night, at a dinner to celebrate Twickenham's centenary, Johnson was voted 02 Player of the Century. He won that poll not just because he lifted the Webb Ellis pot but more for the values he represented as a player: uncompromising and uncomplaining.
His team now have to be judged by the same criteria. Anything less than two victories from the games against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand must be considered a failure.
Little slack was cut for Johnson's predecessors, Brian Ashton and Andy Robinson. The same rules should apply now. Mellow? No chance.

Ben Foden drafted into England squad for autumn internationals

BEN Foden will be looking to add to his caps collection when England take on Australia, New Zealand and Argentina next month.
The versatile Northampton Saints back, who is from Cholmondeley, was this week included in Martin Johnson’s 32 man squad for the autumn internationals.
With almost 20 players unavailable due to injury, Foden has the perfect opportunity to prove his worth to Johnson.
He has already started two full internationals for England and will be keen to collect more caps at Twickenham against Australia (November 7), Argentina (November 14) and New Zealand (November 21).
The 24-year-old started his rugby career at Chester Rugby Club and is a former Bishop Heber High School pupil.
Brother Tom still plays for Chester and dad Rob completed a successful spell as head coach at Hare Lane in the summer.