Head coach Andy Robinson has made four changes in personnel to the Scotland starting line-up for Saturday’s EMC Autumn Test against world champions South Africa at Murrayfield.
Rory Lawson, 29, who will be making his first start in an international at Murrayfield as he wins his 21st cap, will captain Scotland for the first time, replacing Mike Blair who has been ruled out of contention after being concussed in last weekend’s game against the All Blacks.
Lawson, grandson of the late and much-respected Voice of Rugby, Bill McLaren, and son of the former Scotland scrum-half Alan Lawson, becomes Scotland’s 111th Test match captain.
Elsewhere in the back division Nikki Walker, who scored Scotland’s winning try in their 21-6 triumph against South Africa at Murrayfield in 2002, will make his first start since the 2008 Autumn Tests as he replaces Rory Lamont on the wing.
In the pack, Scott MacLeod, who has shown outstanding improvement for Edinburgh this season and who played a decisive role in Scotland’s second Test win in Argentina in June when he was introduced as a second-half substitute for Al Kellock, returns to win his 23rd cap.  He will partner Richie Gray in the boilerhouse.
In the back-row Nathan Hines, who scored a try against the Springboks on their last visit to Murrayfield two years ago, will bring his vast experience to bear from blindside flanker with Kelly Brown moving to No 8 to the exclusion of Richie Vernon.
On the bench, Dougie Hall is preferred to Scott Lawson, his Glasgow Warriors team-mate Moray Low comes in for the injured Alasdair Dickinson and Scotland’s cap centurion, Chris Paterson, is involved in a Scotland 22 for the first time since his landmark day in Cardiff ended with a kidney injury.
Robinson said: “We have to show to Scotland’s supporters this weekend that we are ready to face up to the intensely physical challenge that the South Africans always present.
“The players are pledged to deliver a much-improved performance this weekend and I believe they can restore pride in the Scotland jersey.”
Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play South Africa in the EMC Autumn Test at Murrayfield on Saturday 20 November (kick-off 2.30pm)
15 Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais) 55 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys) 16 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
13 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 48 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 54 caps, 4 tries,  10 conversions, 34 penalties, 11 drop-goals,  175 points
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester) 20 caps CAPTAIN
1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 48 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 41caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) 33 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Scott MacLeod (Edinburgh) 22 caps
5 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
6 Nathan Hines (Leinster) 65 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
8 Kelly Brown (Saracens) 38 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 21 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
Substitutes
16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
17 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps
18 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
19 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 2 caps
20 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh) 1 cap
21 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
22 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 100 caps, 22 tries, 153 penalties, 87 conversions, 3 drop goals, 752 points

This article was posted on 18-Nov-2010, 06:23 by Hugh Barrow.