AUSTRALIA named three changes to the side which thrashed Canada 74-9 on Saturday for the first Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Wellington this weekend.

Hooker Michael Foley and centre Joe Roff return from injury and prop Richard Harry takes his place after withdrawing late from the Canada match because of tonsillitis.

Foley's inclusion, after he dislocated his left elbow during the second test win against Wales when he had come on for Marco Caputo, was made to strengthen the Wallabies' line-out power.

His throwing is markedly better than Caputo, who is named on the reserves' bench, and he has a good understanding with his two Queensland colleagues John Eales and Garrick Morgan.

Roff returns to push out Daniel Herbert, while Harry returns comes into a reshuffled front row at the expense of Andrew Heath.

q SUPER rugby league giants St Helens and Wigan continued their two-horse race for the title with impressive, victories yesterday.

Leaders St Helens ran in 30 points in the last quarter to beat Leeds 42-16 at Knowsley Road and retain their one-point advantage over their Central Park rivals.

But Nigel Wright, Wigan's injury-plagued England stand-off, returned from a 10-month absence to help the reigning champions keep the pressure on their big rivals and stay five points clear of third-placed Bradford.

Saints led only 12-10 until midway through the second half before slipping into top gear - even without skipper Bobby Goulding, who limped off with a knee injury.

Leeds, who stunned Saints with a third-minute try from Barrie McDermott, fell apart as the home side ran in six tries in eight minutes.

At Wilderspool, the 22-year-old Wright, out of action since last year with an ankle problem, went on as a 63rd-minute Wigan substitute for Va'aiga Tuigamala and, within eight minutes, set up Henry Paul's second try.