:: ::
Latest News
Alan MacDonald
Edinburgh flanker Alan MacDonald will make his Scotland debut this weekend
Scots change three as Cusiter recovers
24 November 2009, 8:02 pm
By Marc Heywood
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has made three changes to his starting XV to face Argentina this weekend.
Robinson's men secured an historic win over Australia on Saturday but the former Edinburgh boss has decided to 'freshen' things up against the Pumas.

Edinburgh openside Alan MacDonald is set to make his international debut having impressed for the 'A' team in their comfortable win over Tonga on Friday, while club-mate Ben Cairns comes in at outside centre as Alex Grove moves to the No12 shirt.

Glasgow wing Thom Evans is the other alteration to the side that ended a 27-year losing sequence against the Wallabies, with Ulster's Simon Danielli the man dropping out.

Scotland captain Chris Cusiter has been passed fit to start at Murrayfield after recovering from a heavy knock that forced him to leave the field early in the first half last weekend.

But co-captain Mike Blair is still unavailable having had to withdraw from the match against the Australians due to an ankle injury.

"This selection is about the management of our squad and giving players that performed in the A team an opportunity to deliver a win for Scotland," said Robinson, who is hoping to lead Scotland to their first clean sweep of autumn internationals since 2002.

"I thought it was right to just make a couple of subtle changes and I think that really helped the team moving forward.

"We do have competition for places and last weekend was about two international victories at Murrayfield against Australia and at Netherdale against Tonga.

"I saw this as an opportunity to give Alan MacDonald a start. One, because he's been playing well for the 'A' team, but also because of how John (Barclay) has performed - he has done well - and the punishment that he has taken.

"In the back line, I just wanted to freshen it up a little bit with a bit of pace. Thom Evans brings that - he's the quickest player in the team.

"Ben Cairns has been playing well at 13, and potentially would have started (against Fiji) if he'd have been fit. He's got his fitness back, played in the A team game and did well.

"Alex (Grove) has been the stand-out performer in the back line and he's really held the back line together with his defence, so we're looking at him playing at 12.

"We've got to make sure that we enjoy playing with the ball in hand this week, as opposed to giving it straight back to the Argentines."

Scotland (vs Argentina, Murrayfield, Saturday, November 28, kick off 2.30pm)

Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Ben Cairns (Edinburgh), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors, captain); Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh), Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)

Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
Latest News
Latest Results & Fixtures
Date Home
Away
05/03Scarlets25 - 8Ulster
05/03Connacht19 - 19Warriors
06/03Dragons31 - 22Munster
07/03Edinburgh33 - 17Ospreys
07/03Blues20 - 29Leinster
17/03Connacht  v  Dragons
18/03Leinster  v  Warriors
18/03Munster  v  Scarlets
19/03UlsterP - POspreys
26/03Blues  v  Ulster
How They Stand

Team
Pld
Pts
LeinsterLeinster1134
EdinburghEdinburgh1334
OspreysOspreys1233
Glasgow WarriorsWarriors1233
MunsterMunster1230
Newport Gwent DragonsDragons1229
Ulster RugbyUlster1225
Cardiff BluesBlues1323
ScarletsScarlets1221
Connacht RugbyConnacht1112
Most Tries
Tim Visser6
Aled Brew5
Simon Danielli5
Top Points
Dan Parks138
Chris Paterson115
Ben Blair107
Share this page
ADD TO ASKAskShare this page
ADD TO DEL.ICIO.USDel.icio.usShare this page
ADD TO DIGGDiggShare this page
ADD TO FACEBOOKFacebookShare this page
ADD TO FURLFurlShare this page
ADD TO GOOGLEGoogleShare this page
ADD TO MAGNOLIAMagnoliaShare this page
ADD TO NETSCAPENetscapeShare this page
ADD TO NEWSVINENewsvineShare this page
ADD TO RAWSUGARRawsugarShare this page
ADD TO REDDITRedditShare this page
ADD TO SPURLSpurlShare this page
ADD TO SQUIDOOSquidooShare this page
ADD TO STUMBLEUPONStumbleUponShare this page
ADD TO TAGTOOGATagtoogaShare this page
ADD TO TECHNORATI FAVORITESTechnoratiShare this page
ADD TO YAHOO MYWEBYahooShare this page
ADD TO WINDOWS LIVEWindows LiveShare this page
ADD TO TWITTERTwitterShare this page
All images © http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency and Graham Stuart
© 2010 © Copyright 2009 Magners League Legal notice delivered by Sotic powered by RedDot Web Content Management