Scotland Head coach Andy Robinson has introduced a trio of debutants ahead of the Autumn international against Fiji next month. Worcester's Alex Grove, Edinburgh's Alan MacDonald and Glasgow Warriors' Richie Vernon have all been given the call up.
The trio were a part of Andy Robinson’s Scotland A team who returned triumphant from Romania in the IRB Nations cup earlier this year. The selection was based on current form and Robinson has been impressed by their potential.
Unfortunately there is no place for Edinburgh skipper Ally Hogg or Glasgow’s Dan Parks, however Robinson revealed that players will still have the chance to force themselves into the squad for the other fixtures against Australia and Argentina.
Parks has had an odd relationship with the international game, he seems to lack consistency and seems to buckle under pressure, however his form this season as with all seasons at club level has been very good, his tactical kicking has been superb and his accuracy from the kicking tee has also been impressive.
There is a good mix of home talent as well as exiled players. 10 players from both Edinburgh and Glasgow form the bulk of the Scottish team, which is encouraging to see along with 12 players from English, French, Irish and Welsh clubs.
The autumn tests will be the first test for Andy Robinson who replaced Frank Hadden earlier this year as the Scottish head coach. I think we would all like to see Robinson having a better spell this time round with a national team, unlike his fortunes at England post 2003 world cup.
His work with Edinburgh over the last few seasons seen him turn the club around from a side producing mediocre rugby and finishing a season mid table to second place title contenders of the Magners league last season, their best ever finish, with a home win record as long as your arm. They managed to turn Murrayfield into a fortress and the national side will hope to do the same throughout November.
The Squad is as follows:
John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie, Mike Blair, Kelly Brown, Ben Cairns, Geoff Cross, Chris Cusiter, Simon Danielli, Nick De Luca, Alasdair Dickinson, Thom Evans, Ross Ford, Phil Godman, Alex Grove, Dougie Hall, Nathan Hines, Allan Jacobsen, Alastair Kellock, Rory Lamont, Sean Lamont, Rory Lawson, Scott Lawson, Moray Low, Alan MacDonald, Scott MacLeod, Graeme Morrison, Chris Paterson, Hugo Southwell, Alasdair Strokosch, Richie Vernon, Nikki Walker, Jason White.
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