Ally Hogg at helm of Scotland A team

ALLY Hogg, the 48-times capped Scotland international, will lead the Scotland A team in their first match of the IRB Nations Cup against Georgia tonight.

Four players uncapped at A level (Alex Blair, Jack Cuthbert, Colin Shaw and Steven Turnbull) have been named in the starting XV with a further three (Chris Fusaro, Fraser McKenzie and Bryan Rennie) named on the bench.

Despite having such a youthful squad, Hogg, who is bound for Newcastle on his return from the tour, believes those assembled in Bucharest can achieve the same success as their predecessors last year.

"We're looking forward to defending the Nations Cup from last year. We've got a young squad, some of whom haven't experienced professional rugby yet, but hopefully this can help develop them for the future."

Scotland A, to play Georgia, 6pm kick-off (BST) tonight: J Cuthbert (Bath); C Shaw (Scotland 7s) J Houston (Edinburgh), R Dewey (Glasgow Warriors), M Robertson (Edinburgh); A Blair (Edinburgh) G Laidlaw (Edinburgh); E Kalman (Glasgow Warriors), F Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), B Douglas (Montpellier), S Turnbull (Edinburgh), J Eddie (Glasgow Warriors), S Newlands (Edinburgh), R Grant (Edinburgh), A Hogg (Edinburgh, captain).

Replacements: A Kelly (Edinburgh), D Young (Edinburgh), F McKenzie (Edinburgh), C Fusaro (Heriot's), M McMillan (Glasgow Warriors), D Blair (Edinburgh), Rennie (Exeter Chiefs).