Hastings sets caps record

SCOTT HASTINGS will set a Scottish record for caps when he plays in the second Test against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday. The Watsonian, who jointly holds the caps record with his brother Gavin, will set a new milestone of 62 appearances for his country in a 10-year span of international rugby.

Backs coach David Johnston, who played alongside Hastings in his first international back in January 1986 against France, said: "As a youngster Scott was an outstanding player. Had it not been for Gavin the world would have heard about Scott a lot more.

"He is one of the rocks around which a number of good Scotland teams have been built."

The selection of the 31-year-old Hastings is one of two changes to the Scotland team that lost 62-31 to New Zealand in Dunedin last weekend.

Hastings has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of the first Test and returns to the side at outside centre. The other change is on the right wing where Tony Stanger returns at the expense of Craig Joiner.

Stanger played at outside centre against Bay of Plenty yesterday and for much of the game last week against South Island at Blenheim. But Johnston said: "Although Tony has played at outside centre we were happy that we had seen enough of him at wing.

Stanger could be boosted by the absence of All Black wing Jonah Lomu on Saturday. The powerhouse tryscorer is suffering from a knee injury sustained in the first Test and New Zealand coach John Hart said: "We will give Jonah right up to the day of the Test to prove his fitness."

Wales will go into Saturday's second Test against Australia in positive mood. Even though they have taken the gamble of dropping established 29-times capped tight-head prop John Davies, coach Kevin Bowring said the tourists believed they were in with a chance of victory.

"We are pretty positive, we are very determined this time," the coach said. "We have learnt a lot in our seven games so far and now it is time we started to perform."

Davies, who has not been at his best, makes way for Cardiff's power scrummager Lyndon Mustoe in the only unforced change from the side hammered 56-25 in the first meeting with the Australians at Brisbane.

Injuries, however, mean that centre Leigh Davies and flanker Gwyn Jones miss the tour finale, Simon Hill coming in on the left wing and Gareth Thomas switching to centre.