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| Tait ready for All Blacks match | |
| (7 days later) | |
| Newcastle insist centre Mathew Tait will be fit for England's opening autumn international against World Cup favourites New Zealand on 5 November. | Newcastle insist centre Mathew Tait will be fit for England's opening autumn international against World Cup favourites New Zealand on 5 November. |
| The 20-year-old will miss Newcastle's European Challenge Cup clash against Brive in France on Saturday after suffering a slight thigh muscle tear. | The 20-year-old will miss Newcastle's European Challenge Cup clash against Brive in France on Saturday after suffering a slight thigh muscle tear. |
| He only recently returned to action following early-season knee surgery. | He only recently returned to action following early-season knee surgery. |
| "Mathew will be fine for next week with England, should he be selected," said Falcons rugby director John Fletcher. | "Mathew will be fine for next week with England, should he be selected," said Falcons rugby director John Fletcher. |
| "Mathew was due to start the game on Saturday because he is short of match action, but unfortunately, during the win over Padova last Friday, he got a small tear in one of his quad muscles. | "Mathew was due to start the game on Saturday because he is short of match action, but unfortunately, during the win over Padova last Friday, he got a small tear in one of his quad muscles. |
| "We could have risked him and he may well have got through the Brive game, but that is not in anyone's interests long-term." | "We could have risked him and he may well have got through the Brive game, but that is not in anyone's interests long-term." |
| It is the latest fitness scare for England head coach Andy Robinson during a difficult build-up that has already seen him lose the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Olly Barkley, Steve Borthwick and Stuart Abbott. | It is the latest fitness scare for England head coach Andy Robinson during a difficult build-up that has already seen him lose the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Olly Barkley, Steve Borthwick and Stuart Abbott. |
| Tait is favourite to start at outside centre against New Zealand, possibly partnering his Newcastle colleague Jamie Noon in midfield, although uncapped Gloucester prospect Anthony Allen is pushing hard. | Tait is favourite to start at outside centre against New Zealand, possibly partnering his Newcastle colleague Jamie Noon in midfield, although uncapped Gloucester prospect Anthony Allen is pushing hard. |
| Richard Hill has put in hours of extra training with me Bristol scrum-half Shaun Perry Noon is rested for the Falcons' trip to France, but 21-year-old Toby Flood - one of seven uncapped players named by Robinson in his 30-man squad - starts at fly-half. | Richard Hill has put in hours of extra training with me Bristol scrum-half Shaun Perry Noon is rested for the Falcons' trip to France, but 21-year-old Toby Flood - one of seven uncapped players named by Robinson in his 30-man squad - starts at fly-half. |
| Bristol scrum-half Shaun Perry, meanwhile, has spoken of his delight at making Robinson's squad. | Bristol scrum-half Shaun Perry, meanwhile, has spoken of his delight at making Robinson's squad. |
| Perry is on the verge of a first cap, despite making less than 30 Premiership appearances for his club, with Robinson facing a straight choice between the former welder and Gloucester's Peter Richards to wear the number nine shirt. | Perry is on the verge of a first cap, despite making less than 30 Premiership appearances for his club, with Robinson facing a straight choice between the former welder and Gloucester's Peter Richards to wear the number nine shirt. |
| "It is a great honour - you would not believe how pleased I am," said Perry. | "It is a great honour - you would not believe how pleased I am," said Perry. |
| "It is every kid's dream to play for their country, and I am a step closer now. But I am taking nothing for granted, I am just going to get my head down and work as hard as I can. | "It is every kid's dream to play for their country, and I am a step closer now. But I am taking nothing for granted, I am just going to get my head down and work as hard as I can. |
| "Nearly all the progress I've made is as a direct result of the work that (Bristol head coach) Richard Hill has done with me. | "Nearly all the progress I've made is as a direct result of the work that (Bristol head coach) Richard Hill has done with me. |
| "He has put in hours of extra training with me, working on my passing, my kicking and my general management of a game. He has been awesome. | "He has put in hours of extra training with me, working on my passing, my kicking and my general management of a game. He has been awesome. |
| "With Bristol top of the Premiership, and me being named in the England squad, it is all going amazingly well." | "With Bristol top of the Premiership, and me being named in the England squad, it is all going amazingly well." |