Scotland have named one new cap and two other players making their first start in the RBS 6 Nations Championship for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with England at Murrayfield.
Lee Jones, the 23-year-old Edinburgh Rugby wing, is the debutant with his club colleagues, back-row forwards 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, head coach Andy Robinson has made eight changes in personnel from the starting XV in Scotland’s last match – the narrow loss to England in the Rugby 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.
Robinson said today: “I’ve been pleased with the consistency Lee Jones has shown and he fully deserves to win his first cap.
“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.”
Robinson and the Scotland team are calling on fans at the 67,144 capacity Murrayfield and throughout the country on Saturday to wear blue and show their support for the side.
The game kicks-off at 5pm on Saturday, with the Murrayfield car park open from 1pm and the turnstiles open from 2.15pm. Tickets for the car park are selling fast and can be bought online at www.scottishrugby.org. There will be a full programme of pre-match entertainment plus spectators will also be able to watch the France v Italy match on the stadium’s big screens.
Due to tram works taking place in the west end of Edinburgh’s city centre, Shandwick Place and Haymarket – regular routes for many spectators walking to the stadium – are expected to be busier than normal therefore supporters are urged to allow extra time for their journey and/or arrive earlier at the stadium.
Scotland team (sponsor RBS) to play England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Saturday 4 February, kick-off 5pm)
15 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps, 6 tries, 30 points
14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) new cap
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 60 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
11 Max Evans (Castres) 24 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 66 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions, 53 penalties, 17 drop-goals, 260 points
9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 55 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 60 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 53 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 41 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 16 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap
Substitutes
16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 75 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
21 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
22 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

This article was posted on 31-Jan-2012, 14:03 by Hugh Barrow.