Redpath named as Scotland captain

Sale's Brian Redpath will captain Scotland for their upcoming game against South Africa at the ABSA Stadium on Saturday.

Sale's Brian Redpath will captain Scotland for their upcoming game against South Africa at the ABSA Stadium on Saturday.

Coach Ian McGeechan has resisted the urge to play wing Chris Paterson at fly-half, instead opting for a relatively conservative side in the first of their two-Test series.

Gregor Townsend starts at fly-half, while Paterson is confined to a spot on the wing.

The host nation have named four uncapped players in their line-up. Coach Rudolf Straeuli went for a new-look starting XV for the first Test in Durban.

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It includes the uncapped Ashwin Willemse, Wikus van Heerden, Hendrik Gerber and Richard Bands. Gerber played for the midweek Boks in 2000 but has yet to start a Test.

Two more uncapped players, utility back Gcobani Bobo and forward Juan Smith,are among the replacements.

Selborne Boome, Robbie Kempson, Cobus Visagie, Louis Koen and Trevor Halsteadall return to the international rugby fold after an absence of a year orlonger.

"We have trained well, the guys are enthusiastic and, while the side is lacking in international experience as a unit, we are fortunate to have Joost van der Westhuizen back at scrum-half, said Straeili.

He added: "It is a new year, practically a new squad and different conditions. Our focus is on the present and about laying a solid foundation for the season ahead."

Bulls loose-forward Pedrie Wannenburg is the only survivor from the 22-mansquad beaten by Scotland at Murrayfield last year.

Teams

Scotland:G Metcalfe (Glasgow); C Paterson (Edinburgh); A Craig (Orrell); A Henderson(Glasgow); K Logan (Wasps); G Townsend (Borders); B Redpath (Sale, capt); G Kerr(Leeds); G Bulloch (Glasgow); B Douglas (Borders); S Murray (Edinburgh); N Hines(Edinburgh); J White (Sale); S Taylor (Edinburgh); A Mower (Newcastle).Substitutes: R Russell (Saracens); G McIlwham (Bordeaux-Begles); J Petrie(Glasgow); M Leslie (Edinburgh); M Blair (Edinburgh); G Ross (Leeds); J McLaren(Bordeaux-Begles)

South Africa:R Loubscher (Sharks); S Terblanche (Sharks), ASnyman (Sharks), T Halstead (Sharks), A Willemse (Lions), L Koen (Lions); J vander Westhuizen (Bulls, Capt); L Sephaka (Lions), D Coetzee (Bulls), R Bands(Bulls), B Botha (Bulls), V Matfield (Bulls), H Gerber (Western Province), W VanHeerden (Lions), P Wannenburg (Bulls).Replacements: R Kempson (Stormers), C Visagie (Western Province), S Boome(Western Province), J Smith (Free State Cheetahs), Craig Davidson (Sharks), GBobo (Lions), J van der Westhuyzen (Bulls).