SIX Nations: Scotland – Team to face Wales on Sunday

Published 13 February 2015 | By Bullscot

ScotlandHead 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

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