Planet Rugby

Angry Robinson will chop

09th February 2010 06:03

Andy Robinson hissy

Big decisions: Andy Robinson

Scotland's under-performing players are set to discover their fate on Tuesday as Andy Robinson names his team to face Wales on Saturday.

Robinson hinted at changes in the starting XV by adding 12 new faces to the 22-man pool that suffered an 18-9 defeat to France at Murrayfield in their tournament opener on Saturday.

Fit-again co-captain Mike Blair, Euan Murray, Dan Parks, Ruaridh Jackson, Nick De Luca, Jim Hamilton, Dougie Hall, Simon Danielli and Rory Lamont were already part of the wider Scotland set-up.

But they were joined by Ben Cairns, Scott Gray and Nikki Walker, all of whom missed out on the original selection.

Injuries were also a consideration, with team doctor James Robson yesterday monitoring bruising suffered by Johnnie Beattie (hip), Graeme Morrison (leg), Chris Paterson, Thom Evans and Nathan Hines (all calf), and a shoulder strain to Kelly Brown.

Beattie and Sean Lamont were arguably the only players not sweating on their place in the side.

The way the front row was demolished at times on Saturday meant a likely recall for Murray and possibly fellow prop Allan Jacobsen.

Morrison was also looking over his shoulder after failing to contain two-try monster centre Mathieu Bastereaud, with Alex Grove waiting in the wings.

But the biggest call was set to come at fly-half after Phil Godman once again failed to produce under pressure.

Robinson had to decide whether to persist with the Edinburgh man, switch Paterson from full-back for his 100th cap, risk recalling the erratic Parks, or blood the exciting but untried Jackson.

Hoping at least to keep his place on the bench was rookie lock Richie Gray, who came on against France to earn his first cap.

Saturday was understandably bittersweet for the 6ft 10in 20-year-old.

"It was a massive honour to come on and it was a really proud moment in my life," he said.

"The build-up to the game was extraordinary but when I got on, it was just a blur.

"I tried to do the best I could.

"My first touch of the ball was in the dead-ball area and I think I got hit by about three boys.

"Until you actually get out on that paddock, you really don't know what to expect - massively physical, really intense and the pace is just something else."

He added: "Once you get that taste of Test-match rugby, you really want to go on and get more.

"I've never been to the Millennium Stadium.

"I've heard it's an incredible place, so fingers cross I can hopefully get in the squad for next week.

"I believe, for example, if I was to start, I could cope with it."

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