Coach sticks to tried and true

England coach Clive Woodward will take an unchanged team into the Calcutta Cup rugby test against Scotland at Twickenham tomorrow morning (NZT).

Woodward kept with the same side which beat Italy with a record score of 80-23 at Twickenham on February 17. The only change came on the bench where the injured Mike Tindall is replaced by Matt Perry.

Woodward has kept the attacking fullback Iain Balshaw who has been enjoying an impressive season in the national team.

"He's playing fantastically well at the moment and brings a whole new dimension to our team," Woodward said. "I didn't have a decision to make about changing the fullback. I look at the positives not the negatives. This guy is an outstanding player and if the opposition start kicking the ball at this back three, it's a very exciting prospect."

England were upset by the Scots at Murrayfield in their final match of last season's championship.

"The game last year has really stuck in my memory but we're looking forward to the weekend and concentrating on our own game," Woodward said.

"I learned a lot in that game and I made an error of selection going into the match.

"We were muscled out of it but that's not going to happen again."

Meanwhile, Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has made two changes to his team.

Alan Bulloch replaces James McLaren in the centre while Simon Taylor comes in for Jon Petrie at No 8 in the two changes to the team which began their 28-28 draw with Wales in the second round.

First five-eighth Duncan Hodge will take over the goalkicking duties after winger Kenny Logan's below-par performance against Wales.

In Rome, France make their first Six Nations trip to Stadio Flaminio for an all-Latin rugby clash with Italy that neither side can afford to lose.

The fate of Italy's New Zealand coach Brad Johnstone may hinge on the outcome tomorrow morning while his opposite number, Bernard Laporte, is also under pressure.

Ordinarily a French victory would be widely predicted, but Laporte has made sweeping changes following the 15-22 loss to Ireland in Dublin.

Fabien Galthie replaces Philippe Carbonneau at halfback while Sebastien Bonetti, Thomas Lombard and Christophe Dominici come into the backline and the injured Xavier Garbajosa is replaced at fullback by 34-year-old veteran Jean-Luc Sadourny.

France and England are considered to be the two heavyweights of the Six Nations and while defeat against an emerging side like Ireland is forgivable, losing to wooden spoon holders Italy is not.

Johnstone, meanwhile, will be boosted by the presence of first five-eighths Diego Dominguez for the first time in a year while halfback Alessandro Troncon returns after missing the 23-80 loss to England through suspension.

Dominguez' return has prompted Johnstone to drop the one player who shone in the England match - fullback Andrea Scanavacca - who converted all five of his goalkicks and also handled the ball well.

The third match, Wales against Ireland in Cardiff, has been postponed due to the foot-and-mouth scare in the United Kingdom.

- AGENCIES