Scotland change four in Canada

Editor

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has made four changes to his starting XV for this Saturday's Test against Canada in Toronto.

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has made four changes to his starting XV for this Saturday's Test against Canada in Toronto.

Two of the four are injury enforced, with lock Grant Gilchrist and centre Peter Horne replacing the injured Jim Hamilton (ankle) and Duncan Taylor (calf).

The remaining changes see Kelly Brown and Moray Low replace last week's debutant back-row Blair Cowan and prop Geoff Cross, who start on the bench.

Horne's outing will be his first start for the national team, having made two substitute appearances off the bench on last year's June tour.

A knee injury sustained in his second Test against South Africa curtailed the 24 year-old playmaker's international involvement this season. He returned to action for Glasgow Warriors in April and now aims to extend his international honours.

Gilchrist will make his sixth appearance for his country with the added responsibility of calling the line-outs alongside former age-grade second-row partner Richie Gray.

Cotter has made two further changes to the substitutes, with Alex Allan and Pat MacArthur replaced by Kyle Traynor and Kevin Bryce, the latter set for an international debut if called into action.

“Peter [Horne] was due to fly out for the second part of the tour but, because of injury, we're getting a look at him a week earlier than we thought we would,” said Cotter.

“He's a specialist 12 and he gets an opportunity to slot straight in, having worked hard and asked a lot of questions since arriving.

“Grant [Gilchrist] came on after 35 minutes against USA and played very well.

“Moray [Low] came on at the end of the USA game and played well and now gets an opportunity to start, and Kelly [Brown] comes in to bring all his experience at the end of a very good season with Saracens.

“With Al Strokosch and Kelly you have two back-row players, who can cover both the open and blind sides.

“We have mobile locks who carry the ball well so I think it's complementary to have all those players together in the forward pack.

“Greig [Laidlaw] will keep the captaincy to give continuity for these two games.”

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Al Strokosch, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Moray Low, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Gordon Reid.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Kieran Low, 20 Blair Cowan, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Max Evans

Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: BMO Field, Toronto
Kick-off: 14.10 local (19.10 BST; 18.10 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)