Scotland ring changes for Italian job
Frank Hadden makes 13 changes to Scotland side to play Italy
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Thursday, 27, Sep 2007 08:13
Scotland have made 13 changes to the team that lost to New Zealand last week for their do-or-die rugby World Cup match with Italy.
Coach Frank Hadden has named an identical side to the one that beat Romania 42-0 in one of their earlier pool C games.
Captain Jason White leads a revamped forward-line, which sees the return of Simon Taylor and Allister Hogg.
Chris Paterson is named in an unusual left-wing position and Simon Webster gets the nod at outside centre.
Scotland sensationally lost to Italy, devoid of captain Marco Bortolami for Saturday's clash, the last time the sides met in a thrilling 37-17 Six Nations defeat at Murrayfield.
"We are happy with where we are at present," Hadden commented. "We expect the side selected for Saturday to step up a gear and make the bold statement that we want to make at this World Cup.
"We give Italy the utmost respect. Not only did they win their last match against us but we have always found Italy a difficult side to play against at all levels in Scottish rugby.
"Many players in their starting XV know what it is to play in the latter stages of three of Europe's big competitions – the Heineken Cup, the French Championship and the English Premiership.
"Saturday's match is a knock-out game and is Scottish Rugby's biggest game since we played Fiji in the last World Cup."
Whoever wins out of Italy and Scotland in Saint Etienne on Saturday will progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
Scotland team to play Italy:
15 Rory Lamont, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Simon Webster, 12 Rob Dewey, 11 Chris Paterson, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Allister Hogg, 6 Jason White, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Gavin Kerr.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Craig Smith, 18 Scott MacLeod, 19 Kelly Brown, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Andrew Henderson, 22 Hugo Southwell.