Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Scotland ‘A’ coaches Andy Robinson and Sean Lineen have chosen Allister Hogg to captain the new-look team against Italy ‘A’ at McDiarmid Park on Friday night (27 February, kick off 7.30pm) with seven changes to the starting line-up which lost to Ireland two weeks ago.
Wing Simon Webster and prop Moray Low are also both named in the side after experiencing RBS 6 Nations action with the senior team while Saracens playmaker Gordon Ross will start at stand-off.
Ruaridh Jackson continues in the back division, but the youngster has swapped the number 10 jersey for the inside centre berth while Ed Kalman – called up as cover for the senior team two weeks ago – returns in the front row.
Backs Jim Thompson and Rob Dewey are absent after being called into the Scotland 7s squad for the Rugby World Cup Sevens while Scott MacLeod makes his first international start since helping Scotland to victory over Argentina in June.
After making his Edinburgh debut last weekend, MacLeod says he is delighted to be back in action in the navy blue of Scotland.
MacLeod: “I’m obviously really pleased to be starting; it wasn’t something I expected to happen.
“I’ve been working hard on my fitness since I joined Edinburgh and it is really starting to pay off.
“I got some game-time against Munster on Saturday and now I’ve got a chance to carry that on against Italy ‘A’.”
In the pack, Hogg will start at blindside in a back row containing No8 Johnnie Beattie and openside Alan MacDonald and the Edinburgh forward says he is looking forward to the challenge.
Hogg said: “I’m honoured to have been asked to captain the team on Friday night and with the free admission offer for fans it should be a special game.
“Hopefully the offer will generate a big crowd because we are planning to play some entertaining rugby and a have a real go at the Italians.
“There is some real quality in the team and everyone is looking forward to showing what they are capable of against Italy.”
Up front, Moray Low is set to start and the Glasgow prop says that after tasting RBS 6 Nations action in Paris he wants to achieve success with the ‘A’ team to enhance his chances of earning himself a recall.
Low said: “My main objective is to put in a good performance for me and for the team. Even after being involved in the 6 Nations two weeks ago, this is still a big game for me and I want to push for selection for future games as well.”
Scotland ‘A’ squad to play Italy ‘A’ at McDiarmid Park, Perth (Friday 27 February, kick-off 7.30pm)

15 Steve Jones (Newcastle Falcons)

14 Simon Webster (Edinburgh Rugby)
13 Ben Cairns (Edinburgh Rugby)
12 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints)
10 Gordon Ross (Saracens)
9 Mark McMillan (Glasgow Warriors)

1 Ed Kalman (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Scott Lawson (Gloucester)
3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors)
4 Scott MacLeod (Edinburgh Rugby)
5 Dan Turner (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Rugby) CAPTAIN
7 Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh Rugby)
8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)
16 Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors)
17 Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh Rugby)
18 Craig Hamilton (Edinburgh Rugby)
19 Scott Newlands (Edinburgh Rugby)
20 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby)
21 David Blair (Edinburgh Rugby)
22 Chris Kinloch (Glasgow Warriors)

This article was posted on 26-Feb-2009, 11:42 by Hugh Barrow.