In the side: Lee Jones
Edinburgh wing Lee Jones has been handed a dream debut for Scotland in Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash with auld enemy England at Murrayfield.
The 23-year-old is the only debutant with his club colleagues, David Denton and Ross Rennie, starting in the competition for the first time.
The trio are joined by experienced and battle hardened campaigners - six players in the squad have won more than 50 caps - as Scotland strive to win their opening match in the Championship for the first time since 2006.
In all, Andy Robinson has made eight changes in personnel from the starting XV in Scotland's last match - the narrow loss to England in the World Cup in Auckland back in October. Chris Paterson has retired and Joe Ansbro and Ruaridh Jackson are recovering from injury but the five other changes are down to selection.
"I've been pleased with the consistency Lee Jones has shown and he fully deserves to win his first cap," Robinson said.
"Form has played a part in selection. Edinburgh's qualification for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and Glasgow's performances in the RaboDirect PRO12 mean that competition for places has intensified, particularly in the back-row.
"But, as ever, we select to win an international rugby match. It is not by accident that these games are referred to as Test matches - because that is what they are, the ultimate in physical and mental challenge and that is certainly always on the menu when England are our opponents.
"We have experienced players in our team and they must make that knowledge count by helping the team to a successful start on Saturday."
Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Sean Lamont, 11 Max Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 David Denton, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford (capt), 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Geoff Cross, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 John Barclay, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Graeme Morrison.
Date: Saturday, February 4
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: Murrayfield
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
Comments
jamesliveinhope says...
hang on - there's a marked difference to filming the advertising material which someone then leaks to actually selling the stuff. To actually selling it. Suggest all England fans buy the shirt and wear it around Edinburgh then sell it if the Scots win.
Scotland's problem is that they don't score tries, they have the potential to bully England up front but if they deliver loose kicks to the England back three they risk all sorts of problems.
Refreshing as an Englishman to see some of the weight of expectation removed from the English team. Looking forward to the game.
Posted 13:49 02nd February 2012
atg77 says...
@Kenttaff, Firstly I don't appreciate your predjudice comments about Scottish people. Secondly, with with an experienced pack and Parks kicking for feild position, England don't stand a chance. Scotland by 10.
Posted 19:47 01st February 2012
ThinkingGame says...
From the look of that side, Scotland are going for a (I can't believe it either) subtle game plan. Parks is going to have both Lamonts changing the attack angle for him every time they go wide, and Cusiter's got a back row who will play off him when he snipes and runs. Evans and Lamont can rotate through 12, 13 and wing, while the bench will let them loosen or tighten the approach as the game changes. It won't work, because they have no kicking options outside of Parks, surely haven't had enough time together to have this much flexibility, and because the pack isn't versatile enough to beat England in the set piece, loose, and win quick ball. Ambitious though (for Andy Robinson).
Posted 16:46 01st February 2012
kenttaff says...
a decent looking england side will thump the jocks. parks at 10 oh man thats not pretty
Posted 10:25 01st February 2012
porridge_time says...
England I think you will find had a very similar gaffe with Nike and their winning of last years Grand Slam, before Ireland ripped them to shreads.
Scotland will have to be wary of a very unknown English side... not only that if they cannot convert the opportunties in to tries England will win.
Posted 01:33 01st February 2012
Lucasrg says...
@rugby_rockstar
omg well spotted...something that PR should address on Loose Pass.
I know that in American sports (Nfl, Nba...) is pretty normal to print winning shirts well ahead of a final...but hey this is not fair. I'm pretty sure that many Scots are annoyed about this stupid marketing trick.
Posted 22:19 31st January 2012
melkdave says...
Bit surprised that Blair and Laidlaw arnt the starting half backs .Parks although his experianced tried and tested is limited at getting a backline going forward and thats been Scotlands problem for years lack of tries .But i suppose its a case of the devil you know for Scotland espically in the 1st game..S.Lamont at 12 isnt a suprise either his there to crash the ball up but i think B.Barrit will have his measure if he starts he can tackle a bus lol.A big front 5 though and that could give England problems come scrum time and a new look backrow now that will be a battle royal come Saturday
Posted 17:33 31st January 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
The SRU have already been selling Scottish calcutta cup tee-shirts check it out...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/9049601/Scotland-v-England-SRU-red-faced-after-selling-Calcutta-Cup-winners-T-shirts-online-ahead-of-Six-Nations-opener.html
Okay, they are favourites, I'll give 'em that. But man, can you imagine the flak if England did that?!? I just hope Chris Robshaw has bought one to wear in the post match interviews, just in case we sneak a win!
Posted 16:40 31st January 2012
bcrugby913 says...
laidlaw not at 10? darn. hopefully duncan weir gets a shot this 6N
Posted 16:36 31st January 2012
Lucasrg says...
I was pretty sure Blair and Laidlaw at 9 and 10 since the beginning?! o well
Posted 15:59 31st January 2012
scot_rsa says...
You'd back that Scottish pack against an inexperienced set of English forwards, though I'm nervous about some of the decisions Clancy may make. No excuses though if Scotland don't give Parks a strong platform, and hopefully Laidlaw later in the game. Hats off to Denton & Rennie for deserved starts, go well lads.
Posted 15:40 31st January 2012
atg77 says...
Good to see jones getting a start, too often Scottish coaches have waited until players are in their mid 20's before getting anywhere near the starting 15. however, I'm not so sure about the midfeild. I think Deluca and Evans would have been a more potent combination. I only hope Parks can bring his passing game and get the outside backs going. Since S.Lamont cannot/will not pass, he will need to cut out to Deluca if there any hope of getting out back three involved in the game. At least we can be assured of good feild position and a competetive pack. Regardless of the questionable selections, I'm backing a five point victory for Scotland.
Posted 15:36 31st January 2012
BHathaway says...
Sean Lamont at 12 is the glaring oddity here, perhaps missing the creative spark. playing a 2nd 5/8 alongside a conventional fly half could help Scotlands game immensely
Posted 15:24 31st January 2012