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Rhinos front up for Samoan test
ENGLAND will field an all-Leeds Rhinos front-row in tomorrow's Federation Shield clash with Samoa at Hull's KC Stadium (3pm), writes PETER SMITH.
Leeds props Nick Scruton and Ryan Bailey will step up into the starting line-up after beginning the wins over France and Tonga on the substitutes' bench.
Team-mate Matt Diskin continues at hooker for the third successive game.
With a place in the final guaranteed, coach Paul Cullen has made a total of seven changes to the side which beat Tonga 40-18 six days ago.
Rhinos' Lee Smith, who started both the previous games, drops to the bench and is replaced at full-back by Wigan Warriors' Chris Ashton.
Leeds winger Danny Williams returns to the starting team after being rested last week and Ryan Atkins, of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, comes into the centres for his England debut.
Wildcats' new signing from Bradford Bulls, Brett Ferres, switches from loose-forward to the second-row in place of Leeds' Jamie Jones-Buchanan, whose partner Emma gave birth to their son, Lore, this week.
Captain Rob Purdham, of Harlequins, goes in at loose-forward, which will be his third different position in three games after starting at stand-off against France and centre against the Tongans.
Cullen said: "I am anxious all the players in the squad have an opportunity to show me what they can do before we select the side to play in the final.
"The Samoans gave Tonga a very thorough examination in the opening fixture and we will have to be at our best if we are to reach the final unbeaten."
England (v Samoa): Ashton (Wigan Warriors), Hodgson (Salford City Reds), Gibson (Leeds Rhinos), Atkins (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Williams (Leeds), Cooke (Hull FC), Rooney (Wakefield), Bailey Rhinos), Diskin (Leeds), Scruton (Leeds), Radford (Hull), Ferres (Bradford Bulls), Purdham (Harlequins). Subs Smith (Leeds), Dowes (Hull), G Horne (Hull), Crabtree (Huddersfield Giants).
Kick-off: 3pm.
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Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
