A magnificent seven Edinburgh players have been named in the Scotland ‘A’ starting line-up for the visit of Tonga at Netherdale on Friday evening (20 November, kick off 7.30pm, admission FREE) and former EH12 favourite Hugo Southwell has been handed the number 10 jersey.

Jim Thompson, Ben Cairns – back from the knee injury he suffered against Dragons, John Houston, Galashiels native Geoff Cross, Scott MacLeod, Alan MacDonald and Allister Hogg will all start with Andrew Kelly, Craig Hamilton, Roddy Grant, Greig Laidlaw and Mark Robertson named amongst the replacements.

Meanwhile, Southwell, 29, is famed for his hefty boot, but has spent the majority of his playing career operating in the full-back role. Nevertheless, head coach Sean Lineen, who made his Edinburgh debut against Australia in November 1988, believes the Stade Francais back will prove to be a sound choice at stand-off and says he is looking forward to the contest.

Lineen said: “We’ve picked Hugo to start at stand-off because we believe he will do a good job for us there – he is a quality player with lots of experience who has been regularly operating as first receiver on attack for Stade Francais this season.
 
“We believe we have picked a strong squad to face a competitive Tonga side, who will be physical and skilful.
 
“Andy Robinson will be attending the match at Netherdale and the players realise that this is an ideal opportunity to showcase their skills in a bid to earn selection for Scotland’s Test match against Argentina at Murrayfield next Saturday.
 
“We are looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd at Netherdale and continuing on from the team’s last achievement which was to win the Nations Cup in June.”

Prop Geoff Cross, whose family live close to Netherdale, is one of five players from the area selected in the starting line-up.

Melrose-native Kelly Brown starts alongside the Hawick raised trio of Scott MacLeod, Nikki Walker and John Houston.

Scrum half Rory Lawson has been appointed captain and he leads a back-line containing his cousin Jim Thompson at full-back and capped internationalists Thom Evans and Ben Cairns.

Scotland ‘A’ squad to play Tonga at Netherdale (Friday 20 November, kick-off 7.30pm)
 
15 Jim Thompson (Edinburgh)
 
14 Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors)
13 Ben Cairns (Edinburgh)
12 John Houston (Edinburgh)
11 Nikki Walker (Ospreys)
 
10 Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais)
9 Rory Lawson (captain, Gloucester)
 
1 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Scott Lawson (Gloucester)
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh)
4 Scott MacLeod (Edinburgh)
5 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh)
8 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh)
 
Substitutes: Andrew Kelly (Edinburgh), Ed Kalman (Glasgow Warriors), Craig Hamilton (Edinburgh), Roddy Grant (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors), Mark Robertson (Edinburgh).
 
Supporters are encouraged to arrive early and turnstiles will open at 6pm.
There are seven players selected in the starting line-up who were part of the squad which won the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest in June
There are 10 capped internationalists in the starting line-up with both Jon Welsh and Richie Gray set to make their debuts at Scotland ‘A’ level.