The Ireland hooker Keith Wood will make his comeback from a neck injury for Harlequins at Saracens on Sunday despite withdrawing earlier this week from the national squad for tomorrow's Test against Australia in Dublin.
Wood has not played since September and this will be only his second appearance of the season for Quins, seeking their first away victory in the Zurich Premiership for 18 months.
Denis Hickie has recovered from a hand injury to confirm his place on the Ireland wing whereas Australia have made six changes from the side who scored a bruising 17-6 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires last week.
The hooker Adam Freier will start his first match for the Wallabies, whose coach Eddie Jones said he had chosen his strongest available side even though he is using this tour to experiment in the build-up to next year's World Cup.
"We have picked an exciting line-up and this is a Test we certainly want to win," he said. "Ireland have come on considerably in the last few years and will undoubtedly be in contention for the World Cup."
South Africa will also have an unfamiliar look tomorrow against France in Marseille. Seven changes have been made to the side who defeated Australia in August with the lock Bakkies Botha and the centre Jean de Villiers winning their first caps, the latter surprisingly preferred to Marius Joubert who had an impressive Super 12 series.
Wales have also made seven changes for their meeting with Fiji in Cardiff tomorrow. The Llanelli flanker Dafydd Jones wins his first cap in a back row that has been completely revamped as the Wales coach Steve Hansen swaps pace for the power he preferred against Romania last week.
Hansen's predecessor Graham Henry used to play mind games even before friendly internationals at the Millen nium Stadium, not letting the opposition know whether he intended to have the retractable roof open to the elements or closed.
"Those days are gone," said the Wales team manager, Alan Phillips. "The roof will be closed because the style of play Steve is looking to perfect is based on moving the ball, not kicking it. It is not a question of a shut roof suiting the flamboyant Fijians but fitting what we are trying to achieve."
Meanwhile the Welsh Union have suffered a double blow: its leading clubs have refused to back plans to create four provincial sides from next season to compete in Europe and the Celtic League, and the Welsh Assembly have declined financial help to the governing body which is £60m in debt to Barclays Bank.
Gloucester's director of rugby Nigel Melville attacked Twickenham's citing procedure after his lock Ed Pearce was charged with stamping during the league match at Wasps. "This is getting out of hand," he said. "We are going down the wrong road."
Leeds have signed the Bath wing Rob Thirlby on a month's loan and Newcastle have taken the Samoa and former Richmond outside-half Earl Va'a for the same period.
Wales (v Fiji): R Williams (Cardiff); M Jones (Llanelli), Shanklin (Saracens), Parker (Pontypridd), G Thomas (Bridgend); S Jones (Llanelli), Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Llanelli), M Davies (Pontypridd), B Evans (Swansea), Sidoli (Pontypridd), Llewellyn (Neath), D Jones (Llanelli), M Williams (Cardiff), Charvis (Swansea, capt). Replacements: Lewis (Cardiff), Madden (Llanelli), S Williams (Northampton), Parks (Pontypridd), Powell (Cardiff), Harris (Cardiff), Robinson (Cardiff).
Fiji: Narruhn; Ligairi, Rabeni or Ruivadra, Bai, Lasagavibau; Little, Rauluni; Nyholt, Smith (capt), Cavubati, Naevo, Raiwalui, Tawake, Doviverata, Mocelutu. Replacements: Gadolo, Biu, Rasila, Koyamaibole, Rabaka, Mow, Serevi.
Australia (v Ireland): Burke; Staniforth, Herbert, Mortlock, Sailor; Gregan (capt), Larkham; Stiles, Freier, Noriega, Finegan, Giffin, Cockbain, Smith, Kefu. Replacements: Cannon, Darwin, Harrison, Croft, Whitaker, Flatley, Giteau.
South Africa (v France): Greeff; Paulse, De Villiers, Fleck, Russell; Pretorius, De Kock; Meyer, Dalton, Sephaka, Labuschagne, Botha, Van Niekerk, Venter, Krige. Replacements : Jacobs, James, Conradie, Wannenburg, Wentzel, Roux, Van Biljon.
Romania (v Scotland): Brezoianu; Teodorescu, Maftei, Gontineac (c), Ghioc; Tofan, Mitu; Balan, Tincu, Dima, Petrichei, Petre, Corodeanu, Petrache, Chiriac. Replacements: Toderasc, Florea, Dragnea, Tonita or Socaciu, Sirbu, Coltuneac, Podea.
