Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has made four changes in personnel to the starting line-up for Saturday’s Test against world champions South Africa at Murrayfield.
Twenty-nine-year-old Rory Lawson will be making his first start in an international at Murrayfield as he wins his 21st cap, will captain Scotland for the first time, replacing Mike Blair who has been ruled out of contention after being concussed in last weekend’s game against the All Blacks.
Lawson, grandson of the late and much-respected Voice of Rugby, Bill McLaren, and son of the former Scotland scrum-half Alan Lawson, becomes Scotland’s 111th Test match captain.
Elsewhere in the back division Nikki Walker, who scored Scotland’s winning try in their 21-6 triumph against South Africa at Murrayfield in 2002, will make his first start since the 2008 Autumn Tests as he replaces Rory Lamont on the wing.
In the pack, Scott MacLeod, who has shown outstanding improvement for Edinburgh this season and who played a decisive role in Scotland’s second Test win in Argentina in June when he was introduced as a second-half substitute for Al Kellock, returns to win his 23rd cap. He will partner Richie Gray in the boilerhouse.
In the back-row Nathan Hines, who scored a try against the Springboks on their last visit to Murrayfield two years ago, will bring his vast experience to bear from blindside flanker with Kelly Brown moving to No 8 to the exclusion of Richie Vernon.
On the bench, Dougie Hall is preferred to Scott Lawson, his Glasgow Warriors team-mate Moray Low comes in for the injured Alasdair Dickinson and Scotland’s cap centurion, Chris Paterson, is involved in a Scotland 22 for the first time since his landmark day in Cardiff ended with a kidney injury.
Robinson said: “We have to show to Scotland’s supporters this weekend that we are ready to face up to the intensely physical challenge that the South Africans always present.
“The players are pledged to deliver a much-improved performance this weekend and I believe they can restore pride in the Scotland jersey.”
Scotland:
15 Hugo Southwell ,14 Nikki Walker , 13 Max Evans , 12 Graeme Morrison , 11 Sean Lamont,10 Dan Parks , 9 Rory Lawson (C) ,8 Kelly Brown ,7 John Barclay ,6 Nathan Hines, 5 Richie Gray , 4 Scott MacLeod , 3 Euan Murray ,2 Ross Ford ,1 Allan Jacobsen,
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall , 17 Moray Low , 18 Richie Vernon, 19 Ross Rennie, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 Ruaridh Jackson , 22 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh)
Well after all the dooom and gloom of injury talk yesterday this side doesn’t look too bad.If anything it looks stronger than last weeks team. Interesting choice of Hines on flank and the shift of Kelly Brown to 8th man, this adds some more beef upfront so Scotland must be looking to try be more physical. Only question is will Hines behave himself and stay on the field for all the time he is meant or will he spend time in the bin or at least give away lots of penalties for his ‘niggly’ play.
Good to see better front row replacements on the bench, but with Hines on as flank there is no lock cover on the bench this week, also welcome back to Paterson, even if only on the bench.