Starter: Rob Harley
Robert Harley and Ross Ford have both come into the Scotland starting XV for Saturday's clash with Italy in the Six Nations.
Harley, who scored the match-winning try against Samoa on debut when he was introduced off the bench on the summer tour in the baking South Pacific heat, replaces the injured Alasdair Strokosch in the Scotland back-row.
The only other change to the starting line-up sees British Lion Ross Ford return at hooker in place of Dougie Hall, who sustained a knee injury in the Calcutta Cup match.
Hall and his Glasgow Warriors club-mate Pat MacArthur are both bracketed for the substitute hooker role with a decision to be made, pending Hall's fitness, later this week.
"I had the pleasure of working with Robert on our tour last summer," said Scotland interim head coach Scott Johnson.
"He's big and aggressive and he's been knocking on the door for selection for a wee while. He deserves this chance as a reward for his club form.
"Italy's victory against France in Rome was well-deserved and certainly didn't surprise us. It will be a true Test match this weekend and it would be great to have a big vocal Murrayfield crowd supporting the boys this weekend."
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 (capt), 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall or Pat MacArthur, 17 Moray Low, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Alastair Kellock, 20 David Denton, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Max Evans.
Date: Saturday, 9 February
Venue: Murrayfield
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland) (Wales)
Comments
carpelone says...
Why to name the squad so early? It is an additional advantage for Italy. But I don't think he will be easy for Italy. Scotland by 8.
My family (wife's side) has some Scottish connection and I have to say that I like the Scot fans very much, their behaviour and attitude is always very nice and friendly. Happy rugby, lads.
Posted 00:14 06th February 2013
porridge_time says...
Murray and Hamilton both get another free lunc? Happy to be proven wrong, but these two will yet again contribute zero to the forward effort and Scotland with march hand in hand with Wales to a wooden spoon showdown.
Posted 19:40 05th February 2013
atg77 says...
Unbeleivable that at this level of rugby in the professional age, we have a player at outside centre that is virtually incapable of passing the ball. how difficult is to understand for Scott Johnson that we need someone with decent hands to get the ball out to our back three, who might I add are one of the most dangerous in the competition. We'll get away with it against Italy, but if Scottish rugby wants to move on we need a change. I'd pick anyone of Grove, Dunbar, Horne, Evans or Cairns ahead of that donkey.
Posted 18:01 05th February 2013
lele says...
i'm afraid the character of the scottish...proud people..something like us...will be not a spectacular game but a tough one i think
Posted 17:38 05th February 2013
melkdave says...
I agree with you @Scot_rsa cant believe E.Murray and J.Hamilton keep their starting places and that R.Ford starts.Myself i would have loved to see a front row of Grant, Hall and Cross.I also would have prefered Gilchrist as Greys partner in the 2R.But im guessing SJ and the other coaches ,are looking at the Italy scrum,and how best to counter it,by keeping and adding bulk and experiance.Im also really surprised S.Lamont surviies,was hoping S.Hogg or either A.Grove / A.Dunbar would come in to the centers.I can just about understand R.Jacksons survival.He really needs gametime,if his to start putting his stamp on games,but he really does need to do better.By offering a crediable running threat on the gain line,and distributting better.G.Laidlaw also needs to start offering a running option from the base of rucks /muals .This weekends match really should be a thriller,Italy have arrived this season as full fleged 6Ns competitors,and Scotland have shown potential.Its going to be a hard close match which can go eitherway ,and i expect the scoreboard to go one way then the other,who will end up with victory is a coin toss really
Posted 17:05 05th February 2013
Maubec says...
Like scot_rsa, I'd put Jackson on the bench and put Tom Heathcote at 10, Max Evans at 13 instead of Sean Lamont to give space and balls to the back three.
Someone know if Rennie will be back of injury before the end of the championship ?
Posted 16:52 05th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Scotland were a good side and now they're at home. Unlike France or Wales they played a full 80 but just got beaten by a better team on the day. No shame. If they deliver the same level again they should be fine for the win. If France and Wales both play the same again it will be a shame they can't both fail. I can see a very dull first half in Paris... although that could be incredibly wrong. If one ignites the other will also. I just sense they expect things to click but have no catalysts / initiators. Maybe it needs a brawl. Back to Italy... Would be brilliant if Italy were two from two... I hope they and Scotland get some more wins.
Posted 14:48 05th February 2013
Lucasrg says...
WHy leave Denton on the bench is mistery for me..is he fit?
With Sgarbi and Garcia out for Italy expect somehting like this: Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini, Castro, Minto, Galdenhuys, Zanni, Favaro, Parisse, Gori, Orquera, Masi, Benvenuti, Venditti, Botes/Iannone and McLean 15.
It's good they put Hogg at 15 altough he could be also dangerous as outside center against Italy.
Posted 14:09 05th February 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
As far as I'm concerned, the 6N starts again this week - Italy are a different animal away from home, France a different animal at home.
For all the Irish flair and excitement in the first half, they looked vulnerable when Wales got their big runners into the game and we just don't know where Scotland are at the moment.
Posted 13:46 05th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Tough one to call. Home advantage is cancelled out by scotland under pressure and a confident Italy. Its pretty 50-50 though.
Posted 13:01 05th February 2013
scot_rsa says...
If he's replacing Stroker then is he playing 6? Makes much more sense with Brown at 6 and Harley at 7, hope that's the case. Can't believe Murray and Hamilton have survived the cut, Cross' workrate around the pitch is outstanding. And although Jackson tackled well and had some decent kicks we should be trying something else to give Matt Scott some decent space to work in. Bit deflated. We may squeeze a win with this side (may) but will we learn anything except that some players are inconsistent? Is Robinson back on the selectors panel?
Posted 12:30 05th February 2013