Mass rotation game takes on dizzying momentum

While the All Blacks might have invented mass rugby rotation or, as the All Black panel likes to call it, re-conditioning and rehabilitation, other countries are so enthusiastically embracing rotation that it is amazing players do not suffer from dizziness.

This weekend England and Australia met again after Australia's 34-3 win last weekend. A revised Wales met Argentina overnight in the second test in Buenos Aires after narrowly losing the first 27-25 and even Scotland got in on the R-word act by replacing six players after their 36-16 loss to the Springboks in last week's first test.

Yes, rotation rules in rugby with coaches resting senior players and blooding new ones, all in the name of testing individuals and combinations with the 2007 World Cup in mind.

The cynical might permit themselves the observation that this approach allows (a) coaches to lose without having to ready their necks for the guillotine and (b) that it calls into question world rugby for the three years outside World Cup tournaments.

In the four matches played in the Southern Hemisphere this weekend, only Ireland (against the All Blacks) and Argentina (against Wales) are playing what can be considered to be their strongest available teams.

While the All Blacks rule the roost as rotators, the following shows that other countries - particularly Australia, Wales and England - are also rotating busily while the least-rotated at present seem to be Argentina and South Africa.

Australia vs England

There was a hint of being rattled rather than rotation in the England selections for the second test in Melbourne. Coach Andy Robinson made seven changes - one positional - to an already heavily experimental side which left most of its heavy hitters back in Blighty. Gone were first-five Olly Barkley, locks Alex Brown and Louis Deacon, flanker Magnus Lund, hooker Lee Mears and wing Tom Voyce. Andy Goode, Ben Kay, Chris Jones, Joe Worsley, George Chuter and Jamie Noon came in while last week's centre, Mathew Tait, moved to the wing to replace Voyce.

The forwards were beefed up and Goode's boot means England were at least partly looking at reverting to their usual tactics.

But even if this selection was not so much rotation-based, the English still rate as one of the most rigorous rotators as they left at least 15 frontliners at home, for various reasons, including such valuable forwards as Lawrence Dallaglio, Martin Corry, Danny Grewcock, Andrew Sheridan, Phil Vickery and Steve Thompson, plus backs such as retired halfback Matt Dawson, Charlie Hodgson, Josh Lewsey, Mike Tindall and Mark Cueto.

Meanwhile the Australians made only three changes - rotating halfback Sam Cordingly in for George Gregan, Mark Chisholm in at blindside flanker for the injured Daniel Heenan and Waratahs hooker Adam Freier for Tai McIsaac. But they have signalled far more changes for next week.

They play Ireland next weekend, with a whole new front and back row likely.

Argentina vs Wales

Wales began this series in Buenos Aires with no fewer than 11 front-line players left at home. In spite of that, Wales did passing well against a physical and bruising Puma team.

The narrow loss might even have been a win had Wales not insisted upon the cunning plan of having players yellow-carded at key moments, meaning they lost two men in the first half and suffered 13 points as a result.

Wales had the better of the attacking moments and, even though the test finished three tries apiece, the Welsh tries were put together with the greater finesse.

Wales made only two changes - James Hook came into centre after an impressive role as a substitute last week, while Huw Bennett was rotated into hooker for Matthew Rees.

The Pumas had some first-choice players back from injury last week - the dangerous Felipe Contepomi played at second-five, Leonelli started on the wing while flanker Martin Durand took over from Juan Manuel Leguizamon.

S Africa vs Scotland

Scotland's six new faces in their team were prompted by the need for more beef to combat the Bok forwards. Four of the changes from the first test were made up front - at hooker, prop, lock and flanker - while injuries in the backline saw winger Simon Webster handed a start with Gordon Ross taking over at first-five.

But even Scotland coach Frank Hadden was talking World Cup before the test. "Our first priority is to win the test match and there are things we need to look at from a World Cup perspective, such as the blend of the side and what individuals can do," he said.

The Boks, although coach Jake White started out with a 45-man squad which may contain some cards he has not yet played, look as though the team to play against Scotland in the second test is close to their best, with changes to come only at prop, lock and wing.

France vs Romania

France are another side who are building depth and will rotate for all they are worth.

They played Romania overnight and are missing, players like Freddie Michalak, wingers Aurelien Rougerie Christophe Dominici and Vincent Clerc, centres Florian Fritz and Benoit Baby, halfback Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, flankers Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen and Yannick Nyanaga, lock Pascal Pape and prop Pieter de Villiers.

Some of those players, however, are expected to be rotated in for the next test against Romania and for the rest of France's test schedule.

Rotation rankings

(From most-rotated to least)

1. All Blacks
2. England
3. France
4. Wales
5. Australia
6. Scotland
7. South Africa
8. Ireland
9. Argentina