Joe Ansbro is drafted into the Scotland team for the Springbok Test
Head coach Andy Robinson has named Northampton centre Joe Ansbro in his Scottish team after Max Evans failed a fitness test due to his shoulder injury.
Evans was named in the starting line-up to face South Africa at Murrayfield on Saturday 20 November.
Ansbro was expected to play in a Scotland A match against the USA, but the midfielder will now make his debut at full international level.
"It's the highlight of my rugby career, so far, to be called up for a game of this magnitude to represent Scotland. There's excitement, pride and a bit of nerves as well, a good mix really," said Ansbro.
Robinson stated that he had not hesitated in calling the uncapped player into the starting team to face the Springboks.
"Joe is a talented footballer. We have been monitoring his progress at Northampton closely and he has been getting regular game time this season. We took him with Scotland A to the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in 2009 and we believe he has the required qualities
to perform in international rugby."
The decision taken by Robinson is a surprising, considering the versatile and experienced Chris Paterson remains on the substitutes bench.
Ansbro will now form a new midfield partnership with Graeme Morrison and South Africa will seek to the target the central pairing that have never played together in the midfield.
Ansbro will face the experienced John De Villiers and Francois Steyn in his first Test for Scotland.
The Springboks defeated Wales 29-25 in their last match and opened their tour with a 23-21 win over Ireland.
After a run of four games without defeat, Scotland were thrashed 49-3 by New Zealand last weekend and they will be keen to produce a good performance against South Africa.
South Africa will go into the match as favourites, but like Scotland, they are missing a number of first team players through injury.
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