Allori part of trio leaving Edinburgh

Published on Thursday 8 May 2008 13:10

ARGENTINIAN prop Augusto Allori will make a farewell appearance on Saturday night when Edinburgh rugby bid to clinch their highest-ever Magners Celtic League placing as the season winds up at Llanelli Scarlets.

The twice-capped Allori, 29, is moving back to Italian side Benetton Treviso, from where he joined Edinburgh in the summer of last year, going on to play 22 times for the Capital side.

It was also confirmed that Ally Warnock is joining Doncaster, while winger Andrew Maxwell will pursue a career outwith rugby.

Ulsterman Maxwell's swansong came last week when helping Edinburgh claim victory at Ospreys, which moved them up to fourth in the table, one place higher than their previous best.

For Saturday's trip to Llanelli he drops out amidst a minor shake up. One notable return, though, is prop Allan Jacobsen, who has been sidelined with groin damage since the Six Nations Championship. He will be looking to prove his fitness from the bench ahead of Scotland's forthcoming tour of Argentina, for which he was chosen this week.

Still absent are Jacobsen's fellow internationalists Simon Webster (hamstring), Craig Smith (calf), Ross Rennie (knee), Gavin Kerr (neck) and Roland Reid (hamstring).

Boosting coach Andy Robinson's line-up is full back Hugo Southwell, free of the family commitments which ruled him out last week.

Calum MacRae switches across to the right wing while replacement Craig Hamilton has returned from injury and Mark Robertson is also on the bench for the first time this season. Vacating the bench are Fergus Pringle, Kyle Traynor and Matt Dey.

Also ruled out of the line-up are Simon Cross (lower back), John Houston (head knock) and Andrew Kelly (calf).

Edinburgh: Southwell; MacRae, Cairns, De Luca, Turnbull; Godman, M Blair; Allori, Ford, G Cross, Mustchin, Gissing, Hogg (c), Callam, MacDonald. Subs: Lawrie, Jacobsen, Hamilton, Newlands, Laidlaw, D Blair, Robertson.

Llanelli: D Evans; James, Watkins, G Evans, Brew; Priestland, Davies; John, Schwalger, Manu, Cooper, MacLeod, Easterby (c), Edwards, Bater. Subs: I Thomas, K Owens, L Reed, N Thomas, G Cattle, C Thomas, Daniel.

MARCUS DI ROLLO, the capped centre from Edinburgh whose opportunities at Toulouse have been extremely limited amidst conflicting medical advice over a previously diagnosed heart condition, was today named in a 27-strong Scotland A squad for the Churchill Cup in North America this summer. Scotland matches against Canada in Ottawa (June 7) and Argentina in Kingston (June 11) determine who they play on Finals Day (June 21) in Chicago.

Scotland A: Backs: Barrow (Glasgow), D Blair (Edinburgh), Di Rollo (Toulouse), M Evans (Glasgow), R Dewey (Ulster), Gregor (Glasgow), Jones (Newcastle Falcons), MacRae (Edinburgh), McMillan (Wasps), Pinder (Glasgow), Reid, Robertson (both Edinburgh), Ross (Saracens). Forwards: G Cross (Edinburgh), Dunbar (Leeds), Eddie, Kalman (both Glasgow), Kelly, MacDonald (both Edinburgh), Miller (Exeter), Newlands (Edinburgh), Pringle (Edinburgh), Smith (Edinburgh), Swindall, Thomson, Turner (all Glasgow), Young (Leicester). Plus one more player who will be selected later this month.