AS PART of a rallying call to “restore pride” in the Scottish jersey, Andy Robinson has pretty much overhauled the outfit which spluttered horribly against Wales.
Admittedly, in making seven changes, several were enforced to some degree, but this Scottish selection looks stronger up front especially, with a more unproven yet more ambitious backline.
Full-back Hugo Southwell, his likely replacement, Rory Lamont, and centre Joe Ansbro had already been ruled out through injury, while tight-head Euan Murray does not play on Sundays due to his religious beliefs.
In all likelihood, the out-of-form tight-head would have been replaced by Murray Low regardless of the day of the week.
If that should strengthen a scrum which has struggled so far, the return of their lighthouse second-row Richie Gray following illness ought to enhance their line-out while their loose play should benefit with the return of Johnnie Beattie thereby renewing the so-called Killer Bs backrow alongside Glasgow teammates John Barcley and Kelly Brown.
Leinster’s Nathan Hines and number 8 Richie Vernon drop to the bench, as do half-backs Rory Lawson and Dan Parks, to be replaced by Mike Blair and Ruaridh Jackson. Chris Paterson is restored at full-back and Sean Lamont replaces Ansbro in midfield.
“It’s always better to be making changes if you’re winning, but we’re not in that position, so we had to pick a team that can go out and beat Ireland,” said Robinson.
“I think Ireland are a good side. You have that Leinster back-line, the Leinster midfield that is up there at a really high level,” he added before intimating that Donncha O’Callaghan and Paul O’Connell will be hell-bent on avenging Scotland’s dissection of the Irish line-out last season.
He described the Irish back-row as “probably the best ball carriers in European rugby. You guys might not have seen a lot of Seán O’Brien, but I’ll tell you what, he’s a wrecking ball with the ball. He just runs and runs and runs. We’ve got to be able to put the guy on the floor, David Wallace the same and Heaslip, another British Lion, is an incredible ball carrier. So there’s a big ask for us defensively. . .”
All in all, there are seven Glasgow players in the team (they lie second last in the Magners League), with the boldest statement of intent being to promote Jackson for his first Test start.
Young, talented and more comfortable distributing flat to the gain line than Dan Parks, Jackson’s selection strongly suggests that Scotland will pursue the more ambitious game which sparkled occasionally against France only to misfire against Wales.
Whereas Robinson said the scrum-halves were “interchangeable”, regarding out-half he added: “If results had gone differently this change might not have happened, but we’ve had those results, he’s a young player and I’m going to give him the opportunity to go in and perform. I’m really excited about seeing how he does.”
Lamont, who ran everything from full-back as Southwell’s replacement against Wales, had come on as a wing against France, creating their third try with a break through the 10-12 channel. Hence, he starts at inside centre, with Nick de Luca moving to 13.
“The reason we’re doing that is that we need to establish a go forward in our game,” said Robinson. “As a real big ball carrier we want to get him in the game. . .”
