Geoff Cross: Starts for Scotland
Edinburgh prop Geoff Cross returns to the Scotland starting line-up for Sunday's Six Nations meeting with Ireland at Murrayfield.
Cross, who scored a try against New Zealand in his last start for Scotland, is the only change from the team that began the 34-10 victory over Italy earlier this month.
Cross replaces Euan Murray, the Worcester tighthead, who is unavailable for this weekend as a result of his Christian faith.
Meanwhile on the bench, Dougie Hall has recovered from the knee injury he sustained against England and is restored as replacement hooker.
His Glasgow Warriors team-mate, prop Jon Welsh, also wins a place on the bench - his first involvement in a matchday 23 since he returned home early from last year's tour to the South Pacific to undergo shoulder surgery.
Alastair Kellock will become the 34th Scot to reach the landmark of 50 caps for his country if he is introduced to the action from the bench.
"We have to improve on our last game and that's been our theme at training all week," said Scotland interim head coach Scott Johnson.
"I make no apology for saying again that we have to step up our work in the contact area. Yes, we've some talented athletes in the squad , but we have to give them the opportunities.
"It's good to see players challenging for selection - and there are a number consistently putting their hands up, which is exactly what we want to see.
"But we've kept changes to a minimum and are saying to the players: 'You've won one game. Now go out show us you can win another'."
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 (c), 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Moray Low, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Alastair Kellock, 20 David Denton, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Max Evans.
Date: Sunday, 24 February
Venue: Murrayfield
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Comments
scot_rsa says...
Point is that consistency has not been Scotland's watchword for many a year. SJ is dead right that Scotland need to perform well again. Not necessarily win but that would be a bonus. Although starting 15 looks good I feel the bench is mixed. Would prefer Dunbar or Tonks to Evans and no idea how Denton is going to rediscover form with cameos at international level. Anyway glad Jon Welsh is in the mix, go Scotland!
Posted 20:39 20th February 2013
hingwy says...
Slightly concerned about the scrum, since Tom Court gave Moray Low a beasting in a league game not too long ago and I would consider Cross a weaker scrummager than Low!
Posted 15:23 20th February 2013
atg77 says...
Would have put Dunbar into out-center and dumped Lamont from the Squad. Other than that, this Scotland team should do the business against the Irish on Sunday.
Posted 13:11 20th February 2013