Scotland ring the changes for All Blacks

Published on Tuesday 4 November 2008 09:23

SCOTLAND have made eight changes (one positional) for Saturday's opening Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn rugby Test against New Zealand at Murrayfield.

Recalled after missing the 26-14 away win over Argentina during the summer are backs Nick De Luca, Sean Lamont and Thom Evans while up front there are comebacks for Nathan Hines, Jim Hamilton, Jason White and Simon Taylor.

Chris Paterson switches from wing to full back.

Dropping out altogether are Simon Webster, Graeme Morrison, Scott MacLeod, Ally Strokosh and Ally Hogg while a bench slot beckons for Hugo Southwell and Matt Mustchin.

A late fitness test will determine whether Rory Lawson has shaken off a rib knock or is replaced among the subs by the uncapped Mark McMillan.

The upheaval was also reflected today in the All Blacks camp where coach Graham Henry handed new caps to prop Jamie Mackintosh as well as back rower Liam Messam and Kieran Read.

Captaining the visitors for the first time will be 62-cap hooker Keven Mealamu.

Altogether the Kiwis have made 12 changes from the side which defeated Australia 19-14 in Hong Kong last weekend, the major talking points as Henry rotates his squad are the demotion of flanker Richie McCaw and stand off/centre Dan Carter to the replacements.

In looking to land the New Zealand scalp for the first time at the 27th attempt, Scots coach Frank Hadden set out his stall, saying: "The first criteria was to pick a team to win and you never lose sight of that.

"The next thing we looked at in order of priority was the set piece ... the quality of delivery from scrummage and line-out that will enable us to attack in the way we would like to.

"We also looked at set-piece players who would put pressure on the delivery of the All Blacks as well and make it difficult for them to attack.

"We secondly focused on accuracy in contact (in) looking for physical and aggressive players who know how to look after ball and slow down ball.

"We didn't just look for good tacklers but quality defenders against a team who will be asking us a lot of questions.

"Then we tried to balance the units, for example, a back-line with a mixture of running, handling, kicking skills.

"Most of all we looked for players we thought would really relish this enormous challenge."

The major talking point for Scotland is the demotion of Hogg for Jason White, who has only just completed his first 80 minutes of rugby this season, while Ally Strokosch is another notable omission in the same back row area.

Taylor and White played in the same Scottish Schools side more than a decade ago, though, and will be expected to bring understanding as well as experienced to a key area where the All Blacks have two of their three newcomers.

Reminding his side of the pressure of expectation every time they take the field, Graham Henry admitted the squad had to be managed in keeping with a scheduled that has an unprecedented five internationals on successive weekends.

"Obviously in the back of your mind is six games in five weeks including five Test matches and we have to keep our head about water," he said.

At the same time, Henry attempted to banish an complacency saying: "We will not be taking the Scottish team lightly.

"They will be playing with passion and determination in front of a vocal Murrayfield so we are expecting a physical encounter."

Teams:

Scotland: C Paterson (Edinburgh); T Evans (Glasgow Warriors), B Cairns (Edinburgh), N De Luca (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Northampton); P Godman (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), N Hines (Perpignan), J Hamilton (Edinburgh), J White (Sale Sharks), S Taylor (Stade Francais), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: D Hall (Glasgow Warriors), A Dickinson (Gloucester), M Mustchin (Edinburgh), S Gray (Northampton), R Lawson (Gloucester) or M McMillan (Glasgow Warriors), D Parks (Glasgow Warriors), H Southwell (Edinburgh).

New Zealand: J Mackintosh, K Mealamu, J Afoa, A Boric, A Williams, K Read, A Thomson, L Messam; P Weepu, S Donald, J Rokocoko, M Nonu, R Kahui, A Tuitavake, I Toeava.

Replacements: C Flynn, N Tialata, R Filipo, R McCaw, A Ellis, D Carter, C Jane.