Glasgow Warriors flyer Thom Evans will make his Scottish representative debut for the Scotland A team when they take on Australia A at McDiarmid Park in Perth on Tuesday 21 November (kick-off 7:30pm).

Rory Lawson will continue his captaincy having taken the team to the final of the Barclays Churchill Cup in North America in June this year.

Looking ahead to the game, Scotland A team head coach Henry Edwards said: “Tuesday’s game against Australia A is a great opportunity for us to build on the success from the Churchill Cup and it will give the players an excellent chance to promote themselves, in terms of selection, ahead of the World Cup next year.”

On his chosen captain, Edwards added: “Rory has many qualities that make him the right man for the job, he will also give us consistency following his great leadership of the A team over the summer.”

Also included in the line-up for the first time is lock Jim Hamilton who became the 1,000th international cap when he made his Scotland debut in the 48-6 win over Romania at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Rory Lamont will make the switch from wing to inside centre and Edwards is encouraged by the Perth-born player’s ability: “Rory Lamont is a talented rugby player and it is encouraging for the national team that he is flexible and can slot straight in at inside centre for this game.”

The Scotland A team recorded victories over England A (13-7) and Canada (15-10) to earn their place in the final of the Churchill Cup at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Tickets to see Scotland A v Australia A are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions (OAP’s, students and under 18’s) and are available by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0131 346 5100, in person from the Murrayfield Ticket Centre at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh or via www.scottishrugby.org

Scotland A team to play Australia A at McDiarmid Park, Perth, on Tuesday 21 November (kick-off 7:30pm)

Ex Hawks@
15 Calum MacRae (Border Reivers) *

14 Nikki Walker (The Ospreys)
13 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors)@
12 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors)@
11 Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors)

10 Gordon Ross (Castres)
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester) CAPTAIN *

1 Ali Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) *
2 Scott Lawson (Glasgow Warriors) *
3 Craig Smith (Edinburgh Rugby)
4 Jim Hamilton (Leicester Tigers)
5 Craig Hamilton (Border Reivers)
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Edinburgh Rugby) *
7 Scott Gray (Border Reivers)
8 Jon Petrie (Glasgow Warriors)

Substitutes
16 Andrew Kelly (Edinburgh Gunners) *
17 Ed Kalman (Border Reivers)
18 Andrew Hall (Newport Gwent Dragons)
19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) *
20 Sam Pinder (Glasgow Warriors)
21 Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors)
22 Garry Law (Border Reivers)

This article was posted on 15-Nov-2006, 13:28 by Hugh Barrow.