Scotland have made seven changes from the team that started their last outing, for Saturday’s Murrayfield meeting with New Zealand.
Scotland have made seven changes from the team that started their last outing – the second Test victory against Argentina in Buenos Aires in the summer – for Saturday’s Murrayfield meeting with New Zealand.
Experience returns to the pack in the shape of British Lions Jason White and Simon Taylor, while another member of the 50+ cap club Nathan Hines is also recalled alongside Jim Hamilton in the second-row.
In the backs Sean Lamont has recovered from the knee injury that ruled him out of last season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship and there are call-ups for Nick De Luca and Thom Evans, the last named making his first start at Murrayfield.
On the bench Scotland are looking to give Rory Lawson time to recover from his rib injury sustained on club duty ten days ago. Lawson completed the practice yesterday. Should he have to withdraw he will be replaced by the uncapped Glasgow Warriors scrum-half, Mark McMillan.
More than 47,000 tickets have now been sold for Saturday’s Test and Scotland coach Frank Hadden today urged supporters to ensure they buy their tickets now and help to create a pulsating atmosphere at the stadium.
He added: ““This is a fantastic opportunity for us and the players are really fired up for the challenge. We have a very clear picture of what we’re facing on Saturday and we’re relishing the challenge.”
SCOTLAND: 15 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 14 Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 13 Ben Cairns (Edinburgh) 12 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh) 11 Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints) 10 Phil Godman (Edinburgh) 9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) CAPTAIN
1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) 4 Nathan Hines (Perpignan)
5 Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh) 6 Jason White (Sale Sharks) 7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)
8 Simon Taylor (Stade Francais)
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 17 Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester) 18 Matt Mustchin (Edinburgh)
19 Scott Gray (Northampton) 20 Rory Lawson (Gloucester) or Mark McMillan (Glasgow Warriors) 21 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors) 22 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh)
