Head coach Vern Cotter has made four injury-enforced changes to the starting Scotland team that will play Tonga in this Saturday’s historic viagogo Autumn Test match at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock (kick-off 14:30 BST & GMT, 16:30 SA Time).
The national team are continuing their trend of taking international rugby to pastures new in a globally ground-breaking fixture, as an international involving a Tier One country is held on an entirely artificial pitch for the first time.
The team’s alterations are split evenly between the forwards and backs, with tight-head prop Geoff Cross and number 8 Johnnie Beattie stepping into the pack for Euan Murray and Adam Ashe, who miss out through thigh and neck injuries respectively.
In the backs, 90-cap Glasgow Warrior Sean Lamont, who came on in the 13th minute against New Zealand as an injury replacement for club-mate Mark Bennett (hamstring), retains his place in midfield.
The final change sees Edinburgh Rugby’s free-scoring winger Tim Visser set to make his first appearance since the summer tour in place of injured Warrior Sean Maitland (hamstring).
SRU
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Head coach Vern Cotter said: “We came very close to the best side in the world last Saturday, which left us very disappointed but, when you look at the content of our performance and what the players did on the paddock, it’d be hard for any coach to be too unhappy.”
“The work rate, desire and determination of the squad on the field was excellent. There were a lot of good things in the game and a lot things we’ve looked to improve. That’s the nature of this squad, they’re a young group that wants to move forward.”
“They were naturally disappointed not to build on a good performance against Argentina, but were quick to put that behind them in training this week, and look forward to putting the jersey on again to face Tonga at Rugby Park.”
Changes to the bench:
Three of the four changes to the starting team are promotions from the bench selected in the national team’s previous match against New Zealand last weekend.
As a result, Ryan Grant, Alasdair Strokosch and Duncan Taylor all step in to the vacated substitute positions, with Kieran Low taking the place of David Denton as the lock replacement.
Cotter added: “The players take a lot of pride from playing for Scotland and really enjoy pulling on the shirt, and I can see that enthusiasm in training and in the games we play. They’re setting standards for themselves, which I think is really important for moving forward. It is very encouraging and we’ll continue to work hard on parts of our game to create pressure, momentum and points.”
“To do that against an impressive and powerful Tongan team will present another big challenge for this group. The Pacific Islanders pride themselves on their physicality, power and pace, all of which combined to hurt Scotland at Pittodrie two years ago.
“We will have to be on top of our game and continue our trajectory of improvements if we are to secure the win this Saturday.”
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors – 26 caps), 14 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors – 12 caps), 13 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors – 90 caps), 12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors – 3 tries), 11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh – 14 caps) 10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors – 4 caps), 9 Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester – Captain, 33 caps), 8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres – 33 caps), 7 Blair Cowan (London Irish – 5 caps), 6 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors – 9 caps), 5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors – 7 caps), 4 Richie Gray (Castres – 41 caps), 3 Geoff Cross (London Irish – 34 caps), 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh – 79 caps), 1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh – 38 caps)
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors – 2caps), 17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors – 5 caps), 18 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors – 18 caps), 19 Kieran Low (London Irish – 4 caps), 20 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan – 41 caps), 21 Chris Cusiter (Sale Sharks – 69 caps), 22 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors – 17 caps), 23 Duncan Taylor (Saracens – 11 caps)
Four changes to Scotland starting line up: Geoff Cross, Tim Visser, Johnnie Beattie, Sean Lamont (from left to right)
Hoping for a good winning performance on Saturday, wish all the injured guys the best in their recovery.
Have wondered and thought that the footing must feel different for players on these synthetic pitches so it is interesting to note Scotland prop Alasdair Dickenson prefers playing on grass:
Scotland prop Alasdair Dickinson does not believe the grass will be greener for international rugby if more Tests are played on artificial surfaces.
The Dark Blues will face Tonga at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park on Saturday in the first ever full international to be played on a plastic pitch.
Dickinson has no problem using the #500,000 3G turf on a one-off basis but the Edinburgh forward does not think it should be rolled out permanently for big clashes involving the world’s top sides.
The 31-year-old said: “It’s going to be pretty quick so I hope I don’t get caught one-on-one with a winger.
“I’ve only played down at Cardiff on their artificial pitch and it was fine. I quite enjoyed it.
“I’ve been down at Kilmarnock to look at their pitch and it looks awesome. It will be great for the rugby.
“Does this sort of thing have a future at international level? Well if you had asked me that last year when the Murrayfield pitch was in the state it was, I’d have said yes.
“But now it is immaculate I don’t see why we should have to go to synthetic pitches.
“It all depends on the money and clubs but I would still prefer to see big Tests played on grass. I’m a bit old school like that.”
The Damien de Allende thing has a sense of dejavu about it if you remember oupa early in the season, people complained because Meyer “dragged” him along… but now he has played in the last 5 games?
Only difference is Damien had a chance early season but the feeling was he was played out of his insidecenterwingfullback position.
He will get his chance… He has a huge season ahead of him next year.
@ MacroBok:
oops wrong topic
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