Six Nations: Andy Robinson puts faith in Lee Jones for Calcutta Cup clash

Jones, the 23-year-old Edinburgh winger, steps on to the international stage to turn into a reality a dream that has been with him from childhood. He admitted that he was hopeful of featuring on the team-sheet which Robinson produced on a flip-chart on Sunday evening, but revealed that when he first began dreaming of playing for Scotland he pictured a No 9 jersey, where he played until stepping into the senior ranks with Selkirk.

“It’s always been a dream to get a first cap,” he said, “but, ever since I was a young lad thinking about my debut, I was a scrum-half and never played anywhere else until I was 18. Gary Armstrong was a big one [hero].

“I thought I had a chance this week. I didn’t want to think that too strongly because I didn’t want to be let down, but I had a fair idea that I’d be in with a chance. But it always hits you, the debut, and it would always be against England at Murrayfield if I had a choice so that makes it extra special.”

Robinson revived optimism in the Scottish game by turning to a more exciting style of play since taking over from Frank Hadden in 2009, and garnered morale-boosting victories over Australia, South Africa, Ireland and Argentina. But it has still to produce on the Six Nations and World Cup stages, Scotland crashing out of the pool stages for the first time in New Zealand after conceding a try to England three minutes from time in October.

With Glasgow’s good league form and Edinburgh’s fine run to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, and a surfeit of tries underlining the claims of a number of young talents, notably Denton, Jones, Greig Laidlaw and Stuart McInally in the capital and Warriors’ Duncan Weir, Rob Harley and Stuart Hogg, there were options for the brave as Scotland kick off 2012 with a swift rematch against a remodelled England.

Robinson’s selection of Jones on the right wing and Denton at No 8 came about after Kelly Brown was ruled out of the back row and Joe Ansbro and Simon Danielli dropped from contention in the back line. Ross Rennie has also benefited from his and Edinburgh’s form this season with a selection ahead of John Barclay, Jim Hamilton reforms his partnership with Richie Gray in the second row with Al Kellock dropped to the bench and Alasdair Strokosch steps up for the injured Brown alonsgide Denton, who replaces Richie Vernon.

In the backs, Rory Lamont is in at full-back for the retired Chris Paterson, Nick De Luca replaces the injured Ansbro alongside Sean Lamont and Dan Parks, and Chris Cusiter take over from the injured Ruaridh Jackson and bench choice Mike Blair.

“You deal with the injuries that you have and focus on picking a team that can beat England, “said Robinson, “and I’m happy with the balance that we have in the squad. We’re going into this fully aware that it’s going to be a very frantic, tough Test match.

“Lee Jones has been playing well for Edinburgh, scoring tries. I watched him down at Cardiff in the first Heineken Cup game and liked his work-rate off the ball... and that’s what you’re looking for: work-rate and ability to get on the ball.

“David Denton was really unlucky not to be involved in the World Cup. But he has forced his way into the team with his ball-carrying, defensive ability and enthusiasm for the game, which is abundant. He’s a big man with big hands and, yes, he is going to be under pressure at the base of the scrums but, if your scrum is going forward, it’s a lot easier.

“It’s for us to have the platform that will make it easier for him to play off, but he’s got pace off the base of the scrum and good hands.”

Jones’ move to the wing reveals his determination to succeed. He has also overcome scepticism of several coaches who passed him over for a professional contract, largely due to his then slight 5ft 11in frame but, after working harder than many pros in daily gym sessions alongside while playing for Selkirk and studying at college, he found a way to impress and Rob Moffat gave him the opportunity with Edinburgh at the age of 21. He has since proven he can cope with anything thrown at him and this season has impressed in the Heineken Cup.

Robinson was planning to start Denton at No 8 even before Brown was injured, which means that Brown’s cruel blow has opened the door for Strokosch, the France-bounce Gloucester flanker. Barclay loses out due to his slow return to form with Glasgow after the World Cup and Rennie’s fine form and notable pace, which also points to the expected Scottish battleplan of running England off their feet on Saturday. Newcastle’s Euan Murray has been picked at tighthead prop ahead of Geoff Cross for one clear reason – his superior scrummaging ability – but Murray faces a challenge as he will miss the next two Sunday games, against Wales and France, due to his religious beliefs, and Cross is improving as an all-round player.

With a poor Six Nations record to be turned around, momentum such a great factor in tournament success and Robinson in the frame for the British and Irish Lions job for 2013, the pressure around Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match is intense. So, whatever emotions the selection brings, there can be no doubting that Robinson has plumped for the 22 he believes provides most chance of beating an England team to be named tomorrow.

SCOTLAND TEAM: Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); Lee Jones (Edinburgh), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Max Evans (Castres); Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors); Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (capt, Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Newcastle), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh), David Denton (Edinburgh).

Replacements: Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Al Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors).