Edinburgh Rugby centre, Nick De Luca, who scored a try in Scotland's win against Italy in March and set up Joe Ansbro’s winner in the recent EMC Test against Ireland, is one of two Edinburgh Rugby players to earn a starting spot in Scotland’s match against Italy on Saturday.
The club’s British and Irish Lion scrum-half, Mike Blair, has been selected to start and is named as vice-captain, while back-row Ross Rennie will begin the match on the bench.
Head coach Andy Robinson has told his players that the contest against the Azzurri represents the last chance to influence the composition of the 30 man Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand. That squad will be announced on Monday.
“We have made 14 changes from the team that started against Ireland as we want to give those players who have been working very hard in training the opportunity to put that into practice in Saturday’s Test match against Italy.
“Historically Scotland have found Italy very tough opponents and it was no surprise to us that they achieved one of the results of the RBS 6 Nations Championship earlier this year when they accounted for France in Rome.”
Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland centre Nick De Luca speaks on selection
Italy were on warm-up duty last weekend at home achieving a narrow victory over Japan but Robinson does not read too much into that match.
“We knew we had to be at our best when we faced them next up after their success against France and I was pleased with the way our forwards in particular fronted up at setpiece back in March,” he explained.
There’s an experienced look to the pack with Alastair Kellock resuming captaincy alongside Nathan Hines in the second-row, while Scott Lawson, who scored a try in Scotland’s opening tie of the 2007 Rugby World Cup against Portugal, is given the opportunity to press his claims at hooker.
On the bench, two players who have been diligent in their fightback from injury alongside the care of the Scotland medical team, Chris Cusiter (calf) and Euan Murray (Achilles,) have satisfied the coaches on their readiness for the fray.
Robinson added: “It was encouraging to emerge with a win against Ireland and also that our defence did not yield a try. As ever our aim is to improve on that last showing and I believe that Italy will prove ideal opponents ahead of our opening Rugby World Cup matches against Romania and Georgia.”
Scotland team (sponsor RBS) to play Italy in the EMC Test on Saturday 20 August at Murrayfield, (kick-off 5pm)
Turnstiles open at 3pm on Saturday. Tickets can be collected at the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre from 9am on Saturday. We encourage all supporters to come to the ground early and enjoy the big-match build-up including special features on Scotland’s largest permanent big screens at a sports ground.
Tickets for the EMC Test against Italy are on sale now from www.scottishrugby.org or from the 24 hour credit card hotline 0844 335 3933. They cost from £5 for children and students and from £10 for adults. You can also buy tickets on the day. Full details on this website.
