Edinburgh lock Scott MacLeod has won a call-up to the Scotland team for Saturday’s EMC Autumn Test against South Africa at Murrayfield (kick-off 2.30pm).
The Hawick-born second row, who played a pivotal role in the side’s second test success against Argentina in Mar Del Plata in June, was today named as one half of a boiler house pairing that also features Richie Gray.
Mike Blair, who skippered the team in last week’s game against New Zealand, has not recovered sufficiently from the blow to the head he sustained during that fixture, and is replaced as scrum-half and captain by former Edinburgh favourite Rory Lawson.
Further black and red representation has been secured in the shape of Allan Jacobsen and Ross Ford in the front row, while Ross Rennie, Greig Laidlaw and Chris Paterson will all be among the substitutes. Mossy is therefore in line to make his first appearance for the national team since suffering a kidney injury on the day he became the first male Scot to win 100 caps, against Wales in February.
Overall, Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has made four personnel changes. In addition to the arrival in the starting line-up of MacLeod and Lawson, Nikki Walker replaces Rory Lamont on the wing while hooker Dougie Hall is preferred to Scott Lawson on the bench. In the back row, Kelly Brown moves to No8, with Nathan Hines lining up at blindside.
SCOTLAND TEAM FOR EMC AUTUMN TEST V SOUTH AFRICA AT MURRAYFIELD, SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER, KICK-OFF 2.30PM
15 Hugo Southwell
14 Nikki Walker
13 Max Evans
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Sean Lamont
10 Dan Parks
9 Rory Lawson (captain)
1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Euan Murray
4 Scott MacLeod
5 Richie Gray
6 Nathan Hines
7 John Barclay
8 Kelly Brown
SUBSTITUTES
16 Dougie Hall
17 Moray Low
18 Jim Hamilton/Richie Vernon
19 Ross Rennie
20 Greig Laidlaw
21 Ruaridh Jackson
22 Chris Paterson
Tickets for the South Africa game are priced at ?20, ?25 and ?45 for adults and ?10, ?12.50 and ?22.50 for children and students and are on sale now through three routes – via www.scottishrugby.org; the 24 hour hotline (until midnight on Friday) 0844 335 3933; or in person from 9am-8pm until Friday (19 November) from the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre, Gate A, Roseburn Street, Edinburgh. Please note no tickets are on sale on match day.
