Ten changes in new-look Scotland side to face Fiji

Published on Monday 9 November 2009 21:28

SCOTLAND coach Andy Robinson has wasted no time in laying down a marker as to his style for the team by making ten changes to the side that last took the field in a full international and stressing the focus on a powerful start to the autumn against Fiji.

The selection of one new cap in Alex Grove owes much to injuries to Ben Cairns and Max Evans, but it underlines the value of performing well under Robinson's nose on the Scotland 'A' tour to Romania in June. He has been picked ahead of Edinburgh's more experienced centre Nick De Luca and Robinson pointed yesterday to a greater ability in the debutant to pass and ignite the threat of strong runners Rory and Sean Lamont, and Simon Danielli, on the flanks.

Similarly, Robinson's 'A' team skipper, Chris Cusiter, has stolen ahead of Mike Blair and will make his first Test start since facing New Zealand at Murrayfield in the 2007 Rugby World Cup over two years ago. It is the latest chapter in an enduring story, Cusiter having usurped Blair when Matt Williams took over as Scotland coach in 2003 and Blair having taken over on Hadden's appointment in 2005, while Cusiter was in New Zealand on Lions duty.

Blair was the Lion this summer and he has lost his place on return. Cusiter has only played two games in the past five weeks, but did enough in those, and his early season displays, to edge ahead of Blair. The difference this time is that Robinson has told Blair he is joint-captain in an effort to harness both players' talents and drive, but there was no indication yesterday that Blair may be handed the starting berth against either Australia or Argentina.

Instead, there is a sense that this is Robinson's strongest available side, one he wants to build around, with injured players Euan Murray, Max Evans, Ben Cairns, Jim Hamilton, Ruaridh Jackson and Alasdair Dickinson all to come into the mix for the RBS Six Nations Championship.

Robinson said: "I'm very pleased with the squad we have – it's a very competitive squad. There were a number of 50-50 calls that we had to make, but it's getting the balance right and a picture in my mind of the team that's going to perform at the weekend.

"What I've been really pleased with is the attitude of the players not selected. Training has been intense and each player has come and spoken to me, disappointed at not being involved, which is as it should be. What we have here is a side that has a degree of physicality about it."

He went on to discuss the various merits of the front, second and back rows of the pack, where he has opted against the veteran duo of Nathan Hines and Jason White for the recognised lineout skills of Al Kellock alongside Hines. Robinson has also been pleased by Johnnie Beattie's "consistency" and the "athleticism and pace" of Richie Vernon ahead of Kelly Brown on the bench. He spoke of consistency improving, in the likes of Moray Low's scrummaging and Beattie's all-round play, of dynamism and an ability to be "evasive", particularly in the back three.

"The two Lamonts (Rory and Sean] are dynamic, strong, evasive runners, and very powerful," he said. "I like the fact that both players have had to go to new clubs and have worked their way into the teams and delivered."

On handing Grove his Test debut, the coach said: "I was pleased with the way he performed in the IRB Nations Cup, he's got his spot at Worcester this year and he has very good catching and passing skills, and it's about him, along with Phil Godman, bringing into the game the likes of Simon Danielli, Sean and Rory, a touch wider, and that's why he's been selected."

Scots with a reasonable memory will recall the days when every team selection started with a choice of goal-kicker, so few were the reliable options, so Robinson was inevitably questioned about his confidence in leaving out Paterson, the player who has transformed that aspect of Scotland's game, particularly when so many of the team's wins have been claimed by Paterson's kicks.

Robinson responded: "I believe in Phil Godman as a goal-kicker and it's about him taking the opportunities when it comes to match-day. When Chris comes on he will take over the goal-kicking duties, but I have no issue with Phil because he's a very good goalkicker. He had 81 per cent (success] in the Magners League last year and 71 per cent in the Six Nations.

"I also look at how we're going to perform over the whole 80 minutes. Rory Lamont's strength in the air and the way he's been performing for Toulon, with his evasive skills, has earned him the chance to start in this game."

He shrugged aside the return of former Scotland coach Mike Brewer, now as Fiji's forwards coach, and his inside knowledge of Scots, but expects a very physical, dynamic test. The key, as ever with Robinson, lies with taking control of Saturday's game and delivering victory, and little else. "This is what international coaching is all about – it's about the delivery on the pitch," he said.