Magners League Official Website : Lawson's inclusion only change for Scotland

Lawson's inclusion only change for Scotland

8 February 2006, 12:45 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Scott Lawson, the 24-year-old Glasgow Warriors hooker, will make his first start in the RBS 6 Nations Championship when he plays against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

Lawson is the only change in the starting line-up from Scotland’s opening 20-16 win against France last weekend. He replaces Dougie Hall (Edinburgh Gunners) who is omitted from the 22 with Ross Ford (Border Reivers) rewarded for his consistent displays in the Celtic League with a place on the bench.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden said: “The decision at hooker was an incredibly difficult one to make. I’ve said all along that we have three top quality performers in that position. Now is the opportunity for the other two to show what they can do.

“It’s unfair to suggest that Dougie is carrying the can for any problems in our lineout last weekend. We challenged ourselves in that area by deciding to go for full lineouts to enhance our driving maul and full lineouts are the easiest to defend against.”

Hadden noted that Marcus Di Rollo is continuing to make progress from his sore hamstring from the French game. “We will be monitoring him closely this week and obviously we will be considering other options. Ben MacDougall and Graeme Morrison will both be with us in training,” he added.

Scotland team: Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh Gunners); Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Gunners), Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh Gunners), Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints); Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Blair (Edinburgh Gunners); Gavin Kerr (Leeds Tykes), Scott Lawson (Glasgow Warriors), Bruce Douglas (Border Reivers); Alastair Kellock (Edinburgh Gunners),Scott Murray (Edinburgh Gunners); Jason White (Sale Sharks) CAPTAIN, 8 Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Gunners), 7 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Gunners)

Substitutes: Ross Ford (Border Reivers), Craig Smith (Edinburgh Gunners), Scott MacLeod (Border Reivers), Jon Petrie (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Cusiter (Border Reivers), Gordon Ross (Leeds Tykes), Simon Webster (Edinburgh Gunners)