Andy Robinson makes 14 changes to his squad for Scotland’s warm up encounter against Italy - Rugby
The Scottish Rugby Union has announced their match day 22 for thei second pre-World Cup encounter against Italy. Scotland will host the Italy at the Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh on Saturday,
August 20.
Scotland head coach, Andy Robinson, has announced his squad for their second and final World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday, August 16. He has made 14 changes to the squad which took the field
in their 10 – 6 victory over Ireland at the same venue on Saturday, August 6.
The 28-year-old inside centre, Graeme Morrison, is the only player retained from the starting xv, which went up against Ireland on August 6.
Commenting on the occasion, Robinson said, “We have made 14 changes from the team that started against Ireland as we want to give those players who have been working very hard in training the
opportunity to put that into practice in Saturday's Test match against Italy.”
Robinson further added that Saturday’s tough match against Italy provided the players an opportunity to earn their places in Scotland’s final 30-man squad. Reports are that the Scotland will
announce their final 30-man squad for their 2011 Rugby World Cup, on Monday, August 22.
Robinson has also included the injured duo of Chris Cusiter and Euan Murray after they have recovered from their respective injuries. Cusiter has recovered from his calf injury, while Euan
Murray has recovered from his Achilles injury.
Edinburgh Rugby’s utility back N De Luca will join Morrison at the outside centre position. While Lamont, Evans and Danielli will start the match at the fullback; right-winger and at the left-winger
positions respectively.
Dan Parks and Mike Blair form the new halfback pair, while Glasgow Warriors utility forward Alastair Kellock will start the match at the lock position. Kellock will also lead the side in Saturday’s
game.
Kellock is joined by the Clermont Ferrand’s lock Nathan Hines to form the second row pair. Alasdair Dickinson, Scott Lawson and Moray Low in will start the match at loosehead prop, hooker and
tight head prop positions respectively.
Meanwhile, the trio of Kelly Brown, John Barclay and Richie Vernon will form starting back row formation for the Scotland.
The Scotland’s squad for their Saturday, August 20 encounter against the Italy includes,
Starting XV: R Lamont (Toulon); M Evans (Castres), N De Luca (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), S Danielli (Ulster); D Parks (Cardiff Blues), M Blair (Edinburgh);
A Dickinson (Sale Sharks), S Lawson (Gloucester), M Low (Glasgow Warriors), N Hines (Clermont Ferrand), A Kellock (capt, Glasgow Warriors), K Brown (Saracens), R Vernon (Sale Sharks), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: D Hall (Glasgow Warriors), E Murray (Newcastle), R Gray (Glasgow Warriors), R Rennie (Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), R Jackson (Glasgow Warriors),
N Walker (Ospreys).
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