Scotland debut: Sean Maitland
Interim head coach Scott Johnson has awarded a Test debut to wing Sean Maitland for Saturday's Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham.
In addition to New Zealand-born Maitland, the Kiwi's Glasgow Warriors team-mate Dougie Hall gets his first start in six years at hooker while number eight Johnnie Beattie is recalled to the side.
In all, Johnson has made six changes and one additional positional switch from the team that ended the November Tests with defeat to Tonga in Aberdeen for this weekend's Calcutta Cup clash.
Sean Lamont moves from wing to centre, Ruaridh Jackson returns at fly-half with Greig Laidlaw starting an international for the first time at scrum-half - the position in which he was reared and in which his uncle, Roy Laidlaw, scored a superb solo try in Scotland's last Twickenham victory in 1983.
In the pack Ryan Grant is restored from injury at loosehead, Hall begins a Scotland game for the first time since the 2007 Championship match against Ireland at Murrayfield and completing the front-row Euan Murray becomes the 33rd Scot to reach the landmark of 50 or more caps.
Jim Hamilton is recalled to partner Richie Gray in the second row and, in the back-row, Beattie is back on duty for the first time since the pre RWC warm-up match against Ireland at Murrayfield in 2011.
"I've spoken about the importance of this competition, the history and tradition of it, and you couldn't get a more mouth-watering opening than the game between international rugby's oldest foes," said Johnson.
"Selection for us has been about form but also with an eye to the future.
"Sean Maitland is very proud to be pulling on the Scotland jersey for the first time. His family will be rapt because they raised him in New Zealand always reminding him of his Scottish heritage, getting up in the early hours of the morning to watch both the Five and Six Nations games on the TV.
"He's shown he can play footy with the best of them and the impact he's made since arriving at Glasgow in the autumn has underlined what we'd seen of him playing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
"I've named Greig and Ryan as vice-captains because they're both quality rugby players and the sort of blokes that I reckon can add to the leadership mix.
"I've been impressed by what I've seen of Johnnie Beattie. He brings dynamism to our back-row and we're looking for him to bring that to bear on Saturday."
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Moray Low, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Alastair Kellock, 20 David Denton, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Max Evans.
Date: Saturday, 2 February
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 16:00 GMT
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland) and Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Comments
porridge_time says...
Totally agree with you SunTheMullet, but in fairness to Scotland and Maitland it would appear that his AB boat had sailed. Scotland have struggled during the pro era and unfortunately the old school tie brigade spent too much time navel gazing to realise that the only way forward was to grow the game from the grass-roots.
Posted 01:23 01st February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
Blueriver - examples please ?
To those with some worthwhile comments and views, that Scottish scrum looks formidable. The England scrum is good too and I suspect it's a bit more mobile than the Scottish one while the Scottish scrum looks like it has the bulk to push England back.
We'll just have to wait and see. But Scotland beat the Aussies not so long ago and England beat the All Blacks so anything could happen, couldn't it ?
Posted 20:01 31st January 2013
StunTheMullet says...
Funny how poaching is not poaching except when New Zealand is involved yet New Zealand provide the greatest pool of players to other nations.....
Posted 00:03 31st January 2013
Spartacus says...
Great looking team and with a good bench. Should be tough to beat!
Posted 09:22 30th January 2013
ferdie says...
wouldn't, in the case of Maitland, it only be a 'poach' if his home country wanted him?
They didn't.
Same with Michael Bent, couldn't get a regular start for Hurricanes, was never going to be in contention for ABs, Ireland wanted him - why not.
Thomas Waldrom another one. Never a contender at top level in NZ.
No poaching, these players chose to move. And good luck to them.
Posted 08:36 30th January 2013
mlbp says...
A team full of promise. Will give England a headache.
Posted 22:29 29th January 2013
fiwiboy says...
How about this? Scotland sends all its test players to NZ's TM Cup teams for a season to teach them how to play rugby. After all, the SRU is already doinf it with several of their rising stars, including Richie Grey's brother. For some reason these players have a preference for playing in Dunedin, ``the Scotland of the south!!"
Posted 22:26 29th January 2013
Tamjon says...
As a Southern hemispherer I need to support someone in this comp, My wifes Grandparents are Scottish (as is my mother is law, but I don't like her much). Also like to see Maitland make it, so Scotland will be my team. Good luck to all teams, looking forward to some international rugby.
Posted 20:37 29th January 2013
atg77 says...
As for poaching... there is not a major rugby nation not guilty of it. Maitland has two Scottish grandparents... hardly like he doesn't have connections to the country he's representing.
Posted 20:21 29th January 2013
blueriver says...
Yeah!! You will never see Englund playing foreigners. Wait a moment, there's more foreigners than Englunders in their squad.
Posted 19:23 29th January 2013
Jp07 says...
Delighted with half back combo but just drop Lamont he never ever passes from his breaks
Posted 18:40 29th January 2013
scot_rsa says...
@jmanngod - that's a well laid out argument. So his dad and grandparents are Scottish and he wants to play for Scotland. You going to persuade him not to? Away from this sideshow I' m glad to see Johnson back form. Ok Jackson has never lit up the international stage but he's currently the best. Ford out. Beattie in better form than Denton. Good calls. At last.
Posted 18:17 29th January 2013
Isograford says...
This you can play for another country if your Grandparents (or even parents) thing is ridiculous. You should either have to be born there, or have lived there at least five years or something.
Posted 18:10 29th January 2013
jmanngod says...
this poaching of players is just not right!
Posted 17:44 29th January 2013
atg77 says...
Carpelone, Evans is fine; it's just this odd obsession with Sean Lamont that each succesive Scottish coach seems to have the need to fulfil. Evans maybe smaller, but he is quicker and far more agile than Lamont. Most importantly, he can actually pass the ball. My guess is there will be alot of cut out passes from Jackson and Scott to our wide men, but that'll leave Lamont's channel really vunerable to interceptions. Ideally Stuart Hogg would be at out centre with a Visser, Maitland and Evans back three... now that would be sight to see in full flight.
Posted 17:13 29th January 2013
5Lock4ward says...
All the ingredients are there. Somebody just has to light the fire. Still not sure how Southwell isn't part of the picture. He's captained Wasps back to life and at one point while playing full-back with Stade Francais he was being considered at fly-half for Scotland. He'd probably be their best option right now. Something for them to have considered at least.
Posted 17:11 29th January 2013
melkdave says...
Have to say its a good looking Scotland side,but i echo others on S.Lamonts inclusion,i take it his there as a battering ram,to soften up the english defense.Then Evans will come on to hopefully exploit any tired legs ect.Going to be hard game England -Scotland always are,and the front 5 will decide the outcome in the end.England may have a slight edge ,but its stillgoing to be a hell of game weather permitting.
Posted 16:25 29th January 2013
carpelone says...
@ atg77
Well said. Is Evans injured or not fully fit? Why Lamont is not playing at 12, to the first set-up and for making available quick balls?
Not entirely convinced by the out-halves, nor by back row blending (they are too slow, at least by SA's standards).
Apart from that, one of the most convincing side since many years.
Go the lads.
Posted 15:24 29th January 2013
Michtymauler says...
Potentially a match for England! All depends on the front five and Jackson. Scotland could've and should've beat England last year however were subject to a couple of really silly errors. If there's nothing like that and a bit of luck on their side, preferably heavy rain and bit of a storm then Scotland will beat England!!!
Btw bok, Maitland has a grandparental bloodline. In those circumstances, no one should be commenting at all on eligibility!
Posted 15:16 29th January 2013
atg77 says...
I'm fairly happy with this team. Visser, Maitland and Hogg should offer alot in attack, but there are serious question mark over Lamont's inclusion. They guy's unwilliness or inability to pass the ball is going to leave the above mentioned back three standing with hands in their pockets for most of the game. Big mistake there, would have gone for Horne or Evans at outside centre any day of the week. Other than that, the firepower is there to cause a potential upset.
Posted 14:59 29th January 2013