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CUSITER, ROSS AND LAWSON IN FOR ITALY TEST
Posted: 15/Mar/06
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Coach Frank Hadden has made three changes to the Scotland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Rome on Saturday.
Chris Cusiter and Gordon Ross make their first starts of the championship and Scott Lawson returns at hooker having started last month’s match against Wales. They replace Mike Blair, Dan Parks and Dougie Hall respectively, all of whom are listed on the bench.
Hadden said: “Given where we are at in this season’s championship I feel it appropriate to look at the squad and both Chris and Gordon deserve the opportunity to start. Both need to be seen, particularly when you look ahead to next year and the Rugby World Cup.
“At hooker I have opted for Scott Lawson. Dougie Hall continues to recover from a shoulder injury he sustained against Ireland and he should be fine. I have added the experienced Steve Scott (Border Reivers) to our wider squad.”
On the problems Scotland have faced in the lineout Hadden said: “We were disappointed to win only 23 out of 30 against an outstanding Irish lineout. But I have trust in the commitment and determination of the players to address the situation.”
Scott Murray will win his 75th cap on Saturday and thus equals Gordon Bulloch’s record as most-capped Scottish forward.
Scotland team (sponsor The Famous Grouse) to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Stadio Flaminio, Rome on Saturday 18 March (kick-off 2.30pm Italian time)
15 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh Gunners)
14 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Gunners)
13 Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh Gunners)
12 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors and Glasgow Hawks)
11 Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints)
10 Gordon Ross (Leeds Tykes)
9 Chris Cusiter (Border Reivers)*
1 Gavin Kerr (Leeds Tykes)
2 Scott Lawson (Glasgow Warriors)*
3 Bruce Douglas (Border Reivers)
4 Nathan Hines (Perpignan)
5 Scott Murray (Edinburgh Gunners)
6 Jason White (Sale Sharks) CAPTAIN
8 Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Gunners)
7 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Gunners)*
Substitutes
16 Dougie Hall (Edinburgh Gunners)
17 Craig Smith (Edinburgh Gunners)
18 Alastair Kellock (Edinburgh Gunners)*
19 Jon Petrie (Glasgow Warriors)
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Gunners)*
21 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors)
22 Simon Webster (Edinburgh Gunners)
Travelling with the squad: Ben MacDougall and Kelly Brown* (both Border Reivers)
* = Member of Scottish Institute of Sport
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland). Touch-judges: Alan Lewis (Ireland) and Nigel Owens (Wales). TMO: Cristophe Berdos (France)
This article was posted on 15-Mar-2006, 13:32 by Hugh Barrow.
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