Whenever these two countries meet one or the other has to abandon their national colours and yesterday

Whenever these two countries meet one or the other has to abandon their national colours and yesterday they tossed a coin. Peter Wright, who has been in the wars with neck and rib injuries, and Graham Shiel, who took a bang on the nose, were replaced during the game against the French and both have been named to play against New Zealand.Scotland have never beaten the All Blacks and, as it happens, they may not have the satisfaction of doing so on Sunday. Wilson, formerly with Southland, now with Otago, plays his first Test at full back for New Zealand. Osborne, the only full-back in the squad, has an ankle injury and Wilson, who scored three tries on the wing against Scotland in a 51-15 victory in 1993, takes his place.Scotland field the team that started the match against France in Pretoria last Saturday. If Hastings, who intends to carry on for his club Watsonians, played for Southland he would appear in a maximum of eight matches.Yesterday Hastings had his mind more on New Zealand than Southland and was surprised to discover that his opposite number on Sunday will not be Glen Osborne but the wing, Jeff Wilson.

Hastings, who is employed by Carnegie International in Edinburgh as a sports marketing executive, is considering the offer. After the inaugural World Cup in 1987 he stayed on in New Zealand and played for the University Club in Auckland. The 33- year-old full-back, who leads Scotland against the All Blacks in the quarter-finals in Pretoria on Sunday, may play for Southland in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship in August.Southland, who have three players in the current All Blacks squad, Norm Hewitt, Paul Henderson and Simon Culhane, won promotion to the First Division last season and have considerable funds at their disposal. TIM GLOVER reports from Pretoria Gavin Hastings, the Scotland captain who will retire from international rugby following the World Cup, has been made a substantial offer to play in New Zealand. Rocca lay one shot back - joint second with Jamie Spence - while Baker was in joint fourth place on 69. After 13 holes, Baker had caught Langer at five under par, but then had three bogeys and only one birdie in his last five holes, while Rocca was only level par after 12 holes, but birdied four of the last six holes to move into contention.Colin Montgomerie, already assured of a Ryder Cup place, and the big- hitting American, John Daly, both shot 72, but Ian Woosnam, who has missed the half-way cut in his last three tournaments, could do no better than 74, and needs a low score to stop the rot.Scores, Sporting Digest, page 39. Langer led at the end of the first round with a splendid five-under-par 67.

GOLF Peter Baker and Costantino Rocca, both determined to retain their places in the European Ryder Cup team, were in hot pursuit of Bernhard Langer in the German Open in Hamburg yesterday. But a policy of estimating high for the first half of each six-monthly period would bring an enormous windfall to British Gas nationwide, on a cash flow and interest-bearing basis.Is there such a policy?Yours sincerely,BAMBER GASCOIGNERichmond,Surrey3 June. From Mr Adrian Brodkin Sir: Mark Jones (letter, 2 June) asks for alternatives to "the company director or retired politician" for heads to invite to be guest speakers at school speech days. What could be better than a comedian, "alternative" or otherwise? At least we could then heckle with impunity.Yours faithfully,ADRIAN BRODKINLondon, N25 June. It is an estimated figure, since they now only read the meter every six months, and it was an estimated figure for the same quarter last year. But the interesting thing is that British Gas estimates that I have consumed 18 per cent more gas this spring than last.On what basis, I wonder? I don't remember the weather being much colder. And have other customers perhaps had the same experience? If so, there is a major financial advantage to British Gas at (and this is the subtle part) only a minor cost to each of us.Obviously it all comes right every six months.

From Mr Bamber Gascoigne Sir: British Gas has been much in the news for greed in the boardroom. But I wonder whether they are not operating a more subtle form of greed in the home. I received this morning my quarterly gas bill. Less fortunate was the fact that the warehouse leaked, the seeds germinated, and the warehouse, well, it collapsed.Yours faithfully,GRAHAM GREENChairmanUK Sales Promotion Consultants AssociationLondon, W15 June. Sad to say, the first oil crisis of the 1970s struck and it was thought to be inappropriate to be giving away four-leaf clovers to motorists who had queued for four hours to get a gallon of petrol.Undaunted, the said petrol company stored the millions of four-leafed clovers in a convenient warehouse. "It works every time," he said, "how many do you want?"I declined his offer, but a major petrol retailer thought this brilliant and bought millions.

From Mr Graham Green Sir: I was intrigued by your News Analysis (1 June) about marketing disasters of our time. I have worked in the sales promotion industry for my entire career, so can vouch for the fact that most of them and many more that "got away" are certainly true. My own favourite concerns my very early days in the industry when a rather wild-eyed salesman ran into my office one morning, gave me a small polystyrene pot of earth and said, "Put some water on it and I will be back in three days."Sure enough, he returned and in the polystyrene pot was a perfect four leafed clover. To sneer at notices describing fund-raising events for charity because the language is not quite to his taste is a surprising reaction.Yours faithfully,FRANCES ELLIOTTCorporate Affairs DirectorTescoCheshunt,Hertfordshire6 June. Last year, for example, they won a National Training Award for the workshop and student placements that they organised for a local school. They work very hard to get to know their customers and to help individuals who need an extra hand And they play their part locally in other ways.