Andy Robinson set to unveil dynamic front row in Scotland's Six Nations opener

Published on Monday 1 February 2010 23:26

ANDY Robinson has made no secret of his intent to be bold and ambitious with his Scotland team and his first selection for the RBS Six Nations Championship underlines the statement in thick pen.

The new coach set out to improve Scotland's defensive formation and understanding in the autumn, and create a team that was difficult to beat and deserving of support across the country. He succeeded largely in limiting Fiji and Australia to one try each and inspiring his side to victory over both nations. Argentina looked even more unlikely to break down the Scottish defences in the third Test despite a first quarter in which the slightly re-shaped home side played like a bunch of strangers, and relied on three kicks to snuff out Scots hopes of an autumn clean sweep.

The next challenge facing the new coaching team was not lurking in the background, but being emblazoned across the glitzy big screens recently installed at Murrayfield – an inability to score tries. The attacking formation and desire might have been emerging from a team with Gregor Townsend finding his feet on the coaching front, but the finishing skills were taking some time to catch up.

Robinson, however, is showing patience. In his time with England he learned the value of growing units, blends and a team and, while he ultimately ran out of time after 22 games, he knows with Scotland he has at least until after the 2011 Rugby World Cup – possibly a similar number of Tests – to develop a squad more able to penetrate the best defences in world rugby. He is excited by the progress of youngsters Ruaridh Jackson, Richie Gray, Richie Vernon and Jon Welsh, among others, but is not ready to thrust them into the starting line-up. Everything in the past month has focused on France and how Scotland might beat the favourites for the 2010 Six Nations title. Hence, the decision to stick with Godman at stand-off, the Edinburgh pivot offering the best chance of unlocking threats in the back division with a running game, even if he has not been at his best lately.

The presence of Chris Paterson at full-back brings a kicking influence, and also some extra variety and unpredictability with moves into the fly-half role. After playing at scrum-half with Stade Francais, Hugo Southwell may get his chance to press claims for a return at full-back in the A game against Ireland on Friday, alongside the likes of Mike Blair, Simon Danielli and centre Alex Grove, whose rapid ascendancy dropped slightly with errors against the Pumas.

The midfield combination is arguably the trickiest to get right with players such as Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca and Grove all in the running, but Robinson has said this squad is for the first two Tests, with a specific focus on the tactics he wishes to employ against France and Wales, and has hinted that others may come into the frame for the remaining three games.

Robinson opened his tenure by making ten changes to the team that last played under Frank Hadden in the spring of 2009.

He kept the same team for the second Test against the Wallabies and then made four changes. Cairns replaced Grove at outside centre, Grove slipped into the No 12 jersey with Graeme Morrison dropping out, Thom Evans came in for Simon Danielli on the left wing and Alan MacDonald was handed his debut at openside flanker with John Barclay being left out.

With two months of club action since then, a handful of players returning to the game from injury and others losing form, he is expected to announce a team today with six changes – three in the backs and three in the pack – to that which stuttered to defeat at the hands of the Pumas.

Full-back Rory Lamont is out and Paterson returns to the starting line-up for the first time since the Calcutta Cup last March. Morrison's form at Glasgow appears to have won him a recall at inside centre and Max Evans' return from injury, and, probably, familiarity with Morrison, earns him the nod at 13.

The word from the camp is Alasdair Dickinson has just shaded the loosehead prop pick from Allan Jacobsen on account of recent form at Gloucester. Kelly Brown's form at Glasgow earned him a return irrespective of whether Alasdair Strokosch or Jason White – out with a broken leg – were fit and Barclay was always destined to reclaim the No7 jersey.

Last night, there were still 7,000 of Murrayfield's 67,256 seats available, but with one of the most attack-minded sides witnessed in Scottish colours for some time to be unveiled today they should not take long to shift.

Probable Scotland XV to face France: C Paterson; S Lamont, M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans; P Godman, C Cusiter (capt); A Dickinson, R Ford, M Low, N Hines, A Kellock, K Brown, J Barclay, J Beattie.