Head Coach Vern Cotter has made 2 enforced changes to the starting Scotland side to face Wales at BT Murrayfield Stadium this Sunday (kick-off 15:00 BST & GMT, 17:00 SA Time).
Glasgow Warriors wing Sean Lamont – the most capped player in Scotland’s RBS 6 Nations squad with 91 appearances – has made a timely return from the calf injury that ruled him out of the nation’s opening championship match against France, as a direct replacement for club-mate Tommy Seymour, who has not yet recovered fully from the hip injury sustained in Paris.
The 2nd change sees London Irish tight-head prop Geoff Cross promoted from the bench in place of Euan Murray, who is unavailable on the Sabbath due to his religious beliefs, with Jon Welsh taking the substitute spot vacated by Cross.
Lamont’s inclusion brings a further 2 changes to the bench, with Edinburgh duo Greig Tonks – his 1st call-up since his positional switch and solitary outing at fullback in 2013 – and 21-times capped centre Matt Scott who, through injury, hasn’t featured for his country since the corresponding fixture last year, both coming into the squad at the expense of Peter Horne and Dougie Fife respectively.
Cotter said: “Last weekend’s performance, in terms of line-breaks and heart, was encouraging. We defended well and our lineout, scrum and defence stood up to a very stern French assessment.
“I’m pleased we were in a situation to contest the match throughout, but we left the paddock very frustrated and disappointed that we didn’t get more from the game – and I think that’s a good measure of this squad. There’s a huge amount of determination in this group to improve, with the challenge now to go one step further and deliver a winning performance for our home fans at a full BT Murrayfield.”
He continued: “The boys loving playing at home.
“The fans were outstanding throughout the autumn and we’re looking forward to getting back out there, pulling on the jersey, rolling up our sleeves and having a good crack at powerful Welsh side.”
Scotland:
15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); 28 caps, 8 tries, 1 penalty, 43 points
14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); 91 caps, 12 tries, 60 points
13 Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors); 3 caps
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors); 12 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); 16 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors); 6 caps
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester); 35 caps, 3 tries, 37 conversions, 71 penalties, 302 points
8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres); 35 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
7 Blair Cowan (London Irish); 7 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), 11 caps, 1 try, 5 points
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors); 9 caps, 1 try, 5 points
4 Richie Gray (Castres); 43 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Geoff Cross (London Irish); 36 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby); 81 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby); 40 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
Replacements:
16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors); 4 caps
17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors); 7 caps
18 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors); 3 caps
19 Jim Hamilton (Saracens); 58 caps, 1 try, 5 points
20 Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan); 43 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby); 1 cap
22 Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby); 1 cap
23 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby); 21 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
Not considered through injury: Adam Ashe (neck), Chris Cusiter (returning from knee), David Denton (calf), Chris Fusaro (ankle), Grant Gilchrist (arm), Tyrone Holmes (returning from face), Ruaridh Jackson (knee), Henry Pyrgos (knee), Tim Swinson (calf), Duncan Taylor (returning from hamstring), Duncan Weir (arm).
SRU
First round of the weekend to Scotland, in the U20s – Scotland 36/34 Wales
Second round of the Scotland v Wales weekend is on now, latest score-
Edinburgh 7/3 Ospreys, Jade Te Rure the young Kiwi flyhalf has just scored and converted a try for Edinburgh
Ospreys are missing a lot more players for international duty than Edinburgh. Sam Davies the oSPREYS flyhalf looks sharp and has a big boot.
Stuart McInally makes his debut at hooker for Edinburgh after long injury and being converted from a number 8. On as sub for starting hooker who looked a bit dazed when he went off, maybe for a concussion test.
Latest PRO12 scores – Ulster 10/0 Treviso, Edinburgh 7/6 Ospreys
Stuart McInally is off as starting hooker Neil Cochrane is back on for Edinburgh
Edinburgh 7/9 Ospreys – 36 min gone – 3rd penalty for Sam Davies
Jade Te Rure has got quite a good running game, quite a bit of pace and takes a gap well, made some mistakes trying to offload too quickly, also from have seen so far doesn’t seem to have the best of boots, just missed a penalty (39th min) his second missed one of the match
Just as I say that Te Rure slots a penalty – Edinburgh 10/9 Ospreys – half time
Edinburgh captain back on his feet after being flat on his back and takes his place in the lineout
Big kick from Sam Davis from just inside his 22 to just inside Edinburgh 10m area, too much kicking by both teams
Penalty clearance by Te Rure from just inside his 22 to midway between Edinburgh 10m and halfway line, a few phases later and lineout on Edinburgh 10m line to Ospreys after crossing by Edinburgh cost them a penalty.
Tom Heathcote on for Jade Te Rure
Think Heathcote will give Edinburgh a bit more structure and direction
Spratt, looks big for a centre now on for Beck for Ospreys
Hart and Atkins the pick of the Edinburgh players so far for me
Ulster 36/3 only a few min left there, they have a bonus point for 4 tries
Edinburgh lock sub – Fraser McKenzie on for Ollie Atkins
Good high kick by Heathcote pity Cuthbert got to it ahead of Ospreys player but knocked it on
TIGHTHEAD FOR EDINBURGH HUGE SCRUM PUSHING OSPREYS RIGHT OFF THEIR BALL, pity in end they get pinged for holding in tackle a few phases later
Ed 10/9 Osp – 61st min
Tom Brown scores a try, nice build up Edinburgh
Good long floated over the top pass by Heathcote out to Brown who ran in unopposed.
Heathcote conversion over off the right post
Ed 17/9 Osp – 66 min
Tip tackle by Hoyland, lucky Os player landed on his side not his head – Hoyland gets a yellow
Ospreys penalty kickable
Edinburgh 17/9 Ospreys as he misses – 67th min
Blocking by Ospreys earns Ed a penalty
Heathcote misses a long kick from straight in front
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