Scotland bring in Grove to face Fiji

RUGBY NEWS:WORCESTER CENTRE Alex Grove will make his Scotland debut against Fiji on Saturday, and Chris Cusiter has won the battle with Mike Blair for the scrumhalf shirt and captaincy, coach Andy Robinson said yesterday.

Prop Moray Low will make his first start in the Murrayfield match (2.30pm), the first under Robinson since the former England coach was appointed in June.

Chris Paterson has to settle for a place on the bench as Phil Godman takes the outhalf berth and Rory Lamont starts at fullback.

“We have selected a side that’s full of power; that has the pace but also has the skill level to break down the Fijians,” Robinson said.

“Fiji are above us in the IRB rankings and are a very dangerous team to play against. They are a very strong, powerful side who also hit very hard. We have to match fire with fire.”

SCOTLAND(v Fiji, Murrayfield, Saturday): R Lamont; S Lamont, A Grove, G Morrison, S Danielli; P Godman, C Cusiter; A Jacobsen, R Ford, M Low, N Hines, A Kellock, A Strokosch, J Barclay, J Beattie.

Replacements:D Hall, K Traynor, J White, R Vernon, M Blair,C Paterson, N De Luca.

• Dan Carter's disciplinary hearing has been postponed until today, at the request of the New Zealand team management. The outhalf was cited for a dangerous tackle on Wales scrumhalf Martin Roberts during his side's 19-12 victory at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Carter was due to appear before Judge Jeff Blackett, the International Rugby Board-appointed judicial officer for the match, at a hearing yesterday.

Carter escaped censure from referee Craig Joubert at the time but Wales head coach Warren Gatland and assistant Shaun Edwards both believe the challenge deserved a yellow card. The All Blacks play Italy in Milan on Saturday, a game Carter would probably have been rested for anyway.

• Dafydd Jones will undergo surgery on a shoulder injury sustained playing for Wales against New Zealand on Saturday and has been ruled out of the remaining November internationals.