Centre Henry Slade and flanker Tom Curry have recovered from injury to make England's 36-man squad for the autumn internationals, but first-choice scrum-half Alex Mitchell is out with a neck problem. Slade had shoulder surgery after the summer tour to New Zealand and has not played for Exeter yet this season, while Sale's Curry made his return from a concussion lay-off in Friday's win over Newcastle. Mitchell's absence means Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet and Harry Randall are the three named scrum-halves. Sale's George Ford will continue his rehabiltation from a torn quad muscle as part of the squad, with Marcus Smith and Fin Smith the other specialist stand-offs. ... England’s 36-player squad: Forwards Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester), Dan Cole (Leicester), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale), Tom Curry (Sale), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Ellis Genge (Bristol), Jamie George (Saracens) Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), George Martin (Leicester), Will Stuart (Bath), Sam Underhill (Bath). Backs Elliot Daly (Saracens), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), George Furbank (Northampton), Ollie Lawrence (Bath), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol), Tom Roebuck (Sale), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton), Fin Smith (Northampton), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester) Rehabilitation: George Ford (Sale) Not considered for selection: Alex Coles (Northampton), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton), Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Will Muir (Bath), Max Ojomoh (Bath), Raffi Quirke (Sale), Bevan Rodd (Sale).

Uncapped pair Freddie Thomas and Blair Murray have been included in Wales' 35-man squad for the autumn series in November. New Zealand-born Scarlets wing Murray qualifies for Wales through his mother. Gloucester lock Thomas has been capped by England at under-18s and under-20s level but has switched allegiance as he qualifies through his Welsh grandparents. Head coach Warren Gatland has also given a shock recall to 31-year-old Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams, more than 10 years after his last Wales cap. Gareth Anscombe, Nicky Smith and Tomos Williams also return following international absences as Gatland looks to bring back experience. Aaron Wainwright, one of only three players with 50 caps, is included despite not having played this season because of injury. ... Forwards: Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Taine Plumtree, James Botham, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright. Backs: Tomos Williams, Rhodri Williams, Ellis Bevan, Sam Costelow, Gareth Anscombe, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Max Llewellyn, Eddie James, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Blair Murray, Rio Dyer, Josh Hathaway, Tom Rogers, Cameron Winnett.

Big-money rugby league convert Joseph Suaalii has been named in Australia's 34-man squad to travel to the northern hemisphere next month. The 21-year-old former Sydney Roosters wing or centre is yet to play a professional rugby union game after a switch from league reportedly worth more than 5m Australian dollars (£2.6m). Uncapped former Leicester wing Harry Potter, now with Western Force, has also been named in Joe Schmidt's squad for their tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Schmidt said that Suaalii - who he will use at centre, wing or full-back - needed to be brought in now in preparation for Australia's home series against the British and Irish Lions next year. "I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't conscious of the big deal that he's on and the profile that he has, because you can’t not be aware of that," said Schmidt. "As much as we think maybe it might have been better to come through [the second string Australia XV], part of it is that we play the Lions next year. "So if he doesn't debut on this tour, then there's very little window. There may be one opportunity to play before the Lions next year, and that would be it. So for us, we feel a little bit of pressure to be able to fast-track him." ... Australia squad Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Seru Uru, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson. Backs: Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Samu Kerevi, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph Suaalii, Nic White, Tom Wright.

South Africa squad Backs (16): Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse; Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel; Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard; Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams. Forwards (18): Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese; Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Ruan Nortje, RG Snyman, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp.

Ireland squad Forwards (19): Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Caelan Doris (Leinste, capt) Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster) Backs (16): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster) Training panellists: Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Alex Kendellen (Munster), Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster)

Sione Tuipulotu will captain Scotland in the autumn Tests against South Africa, Australia, Fiji and Portugal while his brother Mosese has been called up for the first time. There are also recalls for prop D'Arcy Rae, centre Rory Hutchinson and winger Darcy Graham, who has been missing through injury since the 2023 World Cup. Glasgow's New Zealand-born fly-half Tom Jordan has recently become eligible and his inclusion nudges Ben Healy out of the 45-man squad. Alex Samuel, Ben Muncaster and Freddy Douglas - who has yet to feature in the United Rugby Championship for Edinburgh - are the other uncapped players chosen by head coach Gregor Townsend. Finn Russell and Rory Darge were co-captains for the Six Nations and are listed as vice-captains for the November matches. ... Scotland squad Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings (all Glasgow Warriors), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Alex Craig (Scarlets), Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey (both Glasgow Warriors), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh), Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson (both Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist, Patrick Harrison (both Edinburgh Rugby), Will Hurd (Leicester), Ewan Johnson (Oyonnax), Nathan McBeth, Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton), Ben Muncaster (Edinburgh), D'Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Jamie Richie (Edinburgh), Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland, Max Williamson (both Glasgow Warriors) Backs: Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings, George Horne (both Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones, Tom Jordan (both Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Harry Paterson, Ali Price (Edinburgh), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath), Mosese Tuipulotu (Edinburgh), Sione Tuipulotu, captain (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon)

England head coach Steve Borthwick has called up Northampton lock Alex Coles and Bath back-row Ted Hill to his squad for the opening Autumn Nations Series match with New Zealand on Saturday. Hill is rewarded after his player of the match display after Bath’s Premiership win over Sale, while Coles continues to impress for Saints. Sale fly-half George Ford is also promoted to the regular squad, having been previously named as going through ‘rehabilitation’ after a quad injury sustained in early October. Leicester forward Ollie Chessum drops out of the squad as he awaits assessment on a knee injury picked up against Saracens, while Charlie Ewels is also out as he follows return to play protocols following Bath’s win at The Rec. Sale wing Tom Roebuck is also dropped from the 36-player squad that will prepare to play the All Blacks.

England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; M Smith, Spencer; Genge, George (capt), Stuart; Itoje, Martin; Cunningham-South, T Curry, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Cole, Isiekwe, B Curry, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford.

Picking Ford as one of 2 backs on the bench is risky. I suppose Marcus Smith can cover wing and full back

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c629qx5e6plo" rel="nofollow - Marler deletes post saying haka 'needs binning'

not sure why anyone with half a profile deletes posts these days, unless they make that decision within 10 seconds in which case they might get lucky. longer than that and it's bound to be noted and subject to a screen-shot, and then the 'guilty deletion' becomes more of a story than the initial point the person's making. binning the kiwis' 'silly dance' is a perfectly legitimate thing to call for IMHO...

The honour in the game is in respecting the other teams traditions.

Without honour there is no respect. Without respect, there is anarchy. Respect for the game and respect for the referee is what makes this game special.

Not binning, but get rid of its protections. Let players respond how they want to it.. Fans at Twickenham, quite rightly do by drowning it out with Swing Low.

Personally I agree with Marler, it is an anacronhnism that has reached its sell by date and I find very boring.

Alternatively, let's have England performing Morris Dancing, Ireland the River Dance and Argentina the Latin Tango........

Having the anthem and the folk dance is two bites of the cherry.

You should have one or the other

And the host should go last.

Good morning islander.

Nothing much more to say really other than. I agree 

All the best 

ST 

Still lost but great theatre.

And 100% agree with Islander. 👍 

It was an impressive Siva Tau, and a properly respectful response from England.

Compelling TV Steve, I agree, but should we really be setting up a situation where combatants are this pumped up and literally touching foreheads before kick-off?! Is that a 'properly respectful' situation, or one that's reminiscent of boxing weigh-ins where the fighters play the game and get all gnarly with each other because it's proven that will attract PPV buyers and end up benefitting their bank balances? Fair play to the two guys here for keeping their composure, but on another day one of them would twitch, and it would all kick off...

 And on how many other days has one of them actually twitched and it 'all kicked off?' 

Comparing international test match rugby (and the elite athletes playing it) to gnarly boxing weigh ins is totally pointless, it's an irrelevant point. The two are poles apart in terms of the sports themselves, but more importantly, in terms of the character, attitude, demeanour (on the whole) of those taking part.

The other post re Brian Moore and the mutual respect between England and the All Blacks hits the nail on the head, and I completely agree with this viewpoint. Long may this tradition and the subtle values that it encapsulates equally on the part of the All Blacks and whoever their opponents are on a given day continue.

Ironic that you write about mutual respect while at the same time sl@gg1ng off a fellow poster for daring to express an opinion you don't agree with.

I want international rugby and boxing title fights to remain poles apart, but I fear this encouragement of opposing teams to confront each other before play starts could be a slippery slope towards bringing them closer together, with the TV companies seeking to get more and more inside access. How long before one of them pioneers a #TongueCam which films the reaction of an opponent as the tongue of the large Maori opposite them is stuck out?

PS I have huge respect for Brian Moore, but would add that he retired from international rugby three decades ago - not sure whether or not he approves of how the haka has developed since then...

Scotland & Fiji teams Scotland: Rowe; Graham, Jones, S Tuipulotu (capt), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey. Replacements: Richardson, Sutherland, Rae, Williamson, Brown, Dobie, Jordan, McDowall. Fiji: Ravula; Karawalevu, Vota, Tabuavou, Loganimasi; Muntz, Lomani; Hetet, Ikanivere (capt), Tawake, Nasilasila, Rotuisolia, Derenalagi, Salawa, Canakaivata. Replacements: Dolokoto, Natave, Koroiduadua, Vocevoce, Miramira, Kuruvoli, Valetini, Nalaga.

I haven't sla@@ed anyone off, just highlighted an irrelevant point to the conversation at hand, that acts as a distraction from what's at the heart of this topic, the Haka itself. 

You would do well to educate yourself on the history of the dance from centuries of Maori culture, and show some respect and tolerance to a different rugby culture, rather than muddying the water with obtuse comparisons to boxing and a series of 'what if's' that have yet to ever materialise in terms of 'someone twitching and kicking off'. Really??

Suffice to say we'll clearly agree to disagree here, and that's fine, but I'll be tuning in on Saturday to watch the latest rendition of a culturally significant performance that existed long before you or I ever set eyes on a rugby pitch.

In the Pacific Island culture, I believe that's called a hongi and is a greeting gesture.  But personally, I'd love to see some more of that fronting up to the dance in union and removal of any special protections it has.

How about replacing Brian Moore with the current England captain who has expressed similar views then?

Great that you deny sl@gg1ng someone off, and then in the very next breath talk down to them by saying they "would do well to educate themselves". I'm perfectly aware of the background to the haka, thanks, and saw it at Twickenham in 1973, albeit with limited memory of that day due to being knee-high to a grasshopper.

The 1970s version was pretty insipid - look at the famous Baabaas game in Cardiff on Youtube, but then they ramped it up after Buck Shelford got hold of it. No coincidence that the recent (40ish years) evolution of the haka has come in step with the larger proportion of Polynesian players in the NZ squad and the development of the All Black (TM) brand, which is now so huge that they can charge a seven figure appearance fee for a game like tomorrow's. World Rugby (the IRB) is afraid to confront them, in the way that Indian cricket is allowed to do much as it likes by the ICC. Hence the haka retains its place as the last act before a match kicks off, even after the anthems and even if NZ are playing away. It's great that the Maoris get a fairer crack of the whip in asserting their cultural identity than was the case 50 years ago, just as it's good that Aboriginal Australians can do the same before a game. The difference being that Australia don't turn up at Twickenham, Ellis Park, Lansdowne Road or wherever and tell the home team that they'll be doing their cultural ceremonial bit in the centre of the pitch, after the anthems, 60 seconds before KO.

I'm not seeking to ban the haka (and nor is Joe Marler as specified in his recent clarification) but I don't like the way it has become sanitised/corporatised, with TV cameras in between the teams and rules about what the opponents may do. When a handful of England players at the outer edges of the 'V' formation adopted in Yokohama in RWC 2019 crossed the halfway line, they were fined - what nonsense! I won't repeat my other objections, as above, but quite a few people seemed to agree with them.

But allowing them so close as to permit physical contact, as happened in the league game last weekend, goes too far the other way, in my opinion. You don't have to agree with this view, but I don't see why you should belittle it.

TNT Sports has a 'haka cam' tomorrow - going too far I think.

Interesting discussion about this in the almost-always-excellent Ruck podcast from the Times...

https://shows.acast.com/theruck" rel="nofollow - https://shows.acast.com/theruck

England have called-up Sale Sharks prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour to the 36-player squad preparing to face Australia in the Autumn Nations Series. The 20-year-old was a member of England's Under-20s side which won their age grade World Cup this year. Opoku-Fordjour replaces Joe Marler, who has announced his retirement from international rugby, while Bath lock Charlie Ewels replaces club team-mate Ted Hill.

But I think Clive Woodward hit the nail replacing Smith for Ford who hadn’t played for a month 

was totally wrong. I can understand replacing the front row although that wasn’t very clever either. 

Too many coaches seem to have a set plan as to when they will bring replacements on - rather that actually responding to the game going on.

Quite right, although perhaps we should welcome the refreshing change that it is the coaches, not the players, who failed to see what was going on around them. (joke)

England line-up England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Lawrence, Slade, Freeman; M Smith, Spencer; Genge, George (capt), Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Cunningham-South, T Curry, Earl. Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Cole, Isiekwe, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford, Sleightholme.

The 12/13 midfield switch is intriguing; not that SB is seeking to change tactics, but that he elects to broadcast this 4 days before the match, when he could have just left Slade & Lawrence in their previous shirts & then mixed things up as soon as game started. Is it a double-bluff?! Doubtful, not really his style…

Fortunately for England those are eminently fixable.

Scotland winger Darcy Graham will miss Sunday's autumn Test with South Africa because of a concussion sustained during his four-try performance against Fiji. The 27-year-old was making his first Scotland appearance in 12 months after a series of injuries ruled him out of the Six Nations and summer tour. He scored half of Scotland's eight tries in the 57-17 win at Murrayfield on Saturday and elevated himself to second in Scotland men's all-time top try-scorers list, one behind team-mate Duhan van der Merwe.

He has had rotten luck with injuries.

  

Such an efficient method of producing players for international rugby.

Not sure the front row will survive Friday night.

New Zealand: Will Jordan; Mark Tele'a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Tamaita Williams, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett (capt), Tupou Vaa'i, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea. Replacements: George Bell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Pasilo Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Leinert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta.

Rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will start in the centres for Australia against England on Saturday at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium in his first professional rugby union game. The 21-year-old former Sydney Roosters wing or centre recently switched from league in a three-year deal reportedly worth A$5.35m (£2.7m). Suaalii, who played both codes growing up, last played rugby union for Australian Schoolboys in 2019. ... Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Suaalii, Ikitau, Pietsch; Lolesio, Gordon; Bell, Faessler, Tupou, Frost, Williams, Valetini, McReight, Wilson (capt). Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Alaalatoa, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Jorgensen.

Where Islander leads the BBC eventually follow.  

"I want Ollie to touch the ball in as much space as he can, he is go-forward for us," England senior assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth told BBC Sport. "I want the players to show exactly what they can do and put their best on the pitch. "The numbers on their back have been interchangeable in some specific transition stuff and how we can get them into the best positions to show off their skills." Despite being a kick away from beating the All Blacks, Borthwick's side only managed one breakaway try through wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Lawrence only made two carries in the game - the joint-lowest alongside props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart - but he topped England's tackle stats with 27. It will be the eighth game in a row both Slade and Lawrence will pair up in England's midfield and while their shirt numbers are changing, both have previously swapped positions during Test matches. One standout example came during this year's Six Nations when Slade set up Lawrence for a vital try against France in Lyon right before half-time. The decision was not fully down to the coaches after both England centres raised their views to staff on how a shift might help get the best out of their dangerous backline. "We do it anyway, if it is attack or defence we are always switching about, but there is more emphasis this week in me being in the wider channels and it is something we think we can explore," added Lawrence. "Credit to Steve he's given us the green light to give it a crack." The positional switch means Lawrence's opposite number in the Australian ranks will be rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who will be playing his first professional game of XVs.

It's seldom a good thing to be followed by anyone from the BBC!

England have replaced injured duo Tom Curry and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in their 36-player squad preparing to face South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday. Both flanker Curry, 26, and wing Feyi-Waboso, 21, suffered head injuries in Saturday's last-gasp defeat by Australia. Bath flanker Ted Hill and Sale Sharks wing Tom Roebuck have been called up to the training squad. ... England squad Forwards Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Ted Hill (Bath Rugby), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby) Backs Elliot Daly (Saracens), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

Jonny Hill , Sale was banned 

And that ban was a joke. 10 weeks, backdated, four of them suspended, so he's available for selection from 7th December, despite not having played since January due to injury.