Scotland recall for De Luca

Pa
Tuesday 09 March 2010 13:22 GMT
Comments

Nick De Luca was today recalled to the Scotland team for Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield.

The 26-year-old Edinburgh star will play at outside centre, in the only personnel change to the side beaten in Italy 10 days ago.

Max Evans moves to the wing, with Simon Danielli dropping to the bench.

De Luca, who will win his 16th cap this weekend, has not started for Scotland since the victory over Canada at Pittodrie in November 2008, although he did come off the bench in Rome.

Captain Chris Cusiter has shaken off a virus and flanker John Barclay has recovered from a knee injury to start.

But injuries have forced changes on the bench, with Mike Blair, Alasdair Strokosch and Alasdair Dickinson all ruled out.

Edinburgh scrum-half Blair and Gloucester prop Dickinson both suffered concussion playing for their clubs on Sunday, while Strokosch suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury.

That means substitute roles for Rory Lawson, Geoff Cross and Alan MacDonald.

Head coach Andy Robinson, who has lost all three of his RBS 6 Nations matches in charge ahead of this weekend's meeting with his former employers, said: "The team has played some good rugby and we have been creating chances. We just need to take that next step and finish off a game."

Of Evans playing out of position on the wing, he added: "Max has been our most potent attacker and we also want to see Nick and the qualities that he can bring to this game."

Scotland team for RBS 6 Nations match against England at Murrayfield on Saturday, March 13 (kick-off 5pm):

H Southwell (Stade Francais); S Lamont (Scarlets), N De Luca (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow), M Evans (Glasgow); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Glasgow, captain); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton); J Hamilton (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow); K Brown (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), J Beattie (Glasgow).

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), G Cross (Edinburgh), N Hines (Leinster), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), R Lawson (Gloucester), P Godman (Edinburgh), S Danielli (Ulster).

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in