Alastair Kellock's return as captain was one of six changes announced on Thursday in a Scotland team which must defeat England here on Saturday to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the seventh straight time. In a match which the Scots must win by more than seven points to keep their hopes alive, coach Andy Robinson made three changes to the backs and three to the pack. Kellock takes over at lock from Jim Hamilton, Euan Murray, who missed Sunday's 13-12 loss to Argentina due to his religious beliefs, is back at prop in place of Geoff Cross and Richie Vernon replaces Kelly Brown at No.8. Brown suffered concussion in the closing stages of the game against the Pumas, which Scotland agonisingly lost to a try seven minutes from time, and under tournament rules he cannot play again before a full week has passed. Mike Blair gets the start at scrum-half in place of Rory Lawson, who was captain against the Pumas, Simon Danielli comes in on the wing, with Sean Lamont moving inside to replace Graeme Morrison at centre where he will partner Joe Ansbro replacing Nick De Luca. Chris Paterson is retained at full-back and will play his 15th World Cup match for Scotland, setting a new record by going ahead of Doddie Weir who he shared the previous record with. "The stage is set for what I am sure will be an occasion worthy of everything this fixture means to both countries and their supporters," said Robinson, who previously coached England. "The atmosphere in Wellington (against Argentina) last weekend was exceptional but I believe at a sell-out Eden Park on Saturday it will be even better. "What this weekend is about once again though is doing everything we can to win a Test match and qualify for the knockout matches." Scotland haven't beaten England by more than seven points for 25 years and they haven't done it outside Scotland since 1983. The match at Eden Park will be the 129th occasion the countries have met stretching back 140 years to the very first rugby international played at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh in 1871. It will, however, be the first time the two countries have faced up to each other on neutral soil. Scotland (15-1) Chris Paterson; Max Evans, Joe Ansbro, Sean Lamont, Simon Danielli; Ruaridh Jackson, Mike Blair; Richie Vernon, John Barclay, Ally Strokosch; Alastair Kellock (capt), Richie Gray; Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Allan Jacobsen Replacements: Scott Lawson, Alasdair Dickinson, Nathan Hines, Ross Rennie, Chris Cusiter, Dan Parks, Nick de Luca
GMT 13:37 2018 Wednesday ,12 December
WADA views International Sambo Federation as one of best in fight against doping abuseGMT 17:20 2018 Monday ,26 November
Russian football top-league’s clubs spent over $209 mln on transfer activities in 2017GMT 17:16 2018 Wednesday ,10 October
Charges against Russian national footballers Kokorin, MamaevGMT 05:55 2018 Saturday ,06 October
Don King seeks $2 mln with CAS for Stiverne-Povetkin cancelled boutGMT 09:45 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Farrell lone Englishman on Euro awards long listGMT 08:24 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Brewers make offer to Japanese pitcher DarvishGMT 10:31 2018 Friday ,19 January
Man Utd set to make Sanchez highest-paid Premier League playerGMT 08:23 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Alvarez vs Golovkin rematch coming in May: reportMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor