Scotland coach Andy Robinson has made sweeping changes to the team that was so abject against Wales.
Robinson has made seven changes in personnel and a further positional switch for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with Ireland at Murrayfield (kick-off 3pm).
Announcing the ambitious line-up this morning, he urged the team to “restore the pride in all Scotland supporters” after the disappointing 6-24 defeat to Wales.
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“We have made changes with a view to securing our first win of the competition and giving our supporters the lift that they deserve,” Robinson said. “We know that Ireland will bring their own distinct physicality and guile to Murrayfield on Sunday and it is up to our squad to front up to that challenge. “We must play with belief and eliminate the mistakes which have bedevilled us in our opening two games and we must produce a performance that restores the pride in all Scotland supporters.” From the team that lost to Wales at Murrayfield on 12 February, Hugo Southwell and Joe Ansbro had already been ruled out through injury. Also omitted are half-backs Dan Parks and Rory Lawson, tight-head prop Euan Murray, lock Nathan Hines and no.8 Richie Vernon. They are replaced respectively by Scotland’s most capped player, Chris Paterson, along with Sean Lamont, Ruaridh Jackson (making his first start for Scotland as he wins his fourth cap), Mike Blair, Moray Low, the rejuvenated Richie Gray - who missed the Welsh game through illness - and his Glasgow Warriors teammate Johnnie Beattie, who has recovered from shoulder surgery and whose try was a feature of Scotland’s victory over Ireland at Croke Park last year. The positional switch sees Nick De Luca move from inside centre to the no.13 shirt. On the bench, Geoff Cross and Simon Danielli are involved in a Scotland 22 for the first time this year. The full Scotland team: 15 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), 14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys), 13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), 12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets), 11 Max Evans, 10 Ruaridh Jackson (both Glasgow Warriors), 9 Mike Blair, 1 Allan Jacobsen, 2 Ross Ford (all Edinburgh), 3 Moray Low, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Alastair Kellock, captain (all Glasgow Warriors), 6 Kelly Brown (Saracens), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay (both Glasgow Warriors). Substitutes: 16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester), 17 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), 18 Nathan Hines (Leinster), 19 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), 20 Rory Lawson (Gloucester), 21 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), 22 Simon Danielli (Ulster). Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales). Assistant referees: Andrew Small (England), Pascal Gauzere (France). TMO: Graham Hughes (England).We need your support. Please donate to The Caledonian Mercury
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