Scots Select Hamilton In Second Row
The make-up of the Scotland team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations tie with Ireland has been confirmed – Scotland’s 1000th cap Jim Hamilton has been pencilled into the second row for the Murrayfield game.
Jim Hamilton will resume his partnership with Jason White for the first time since it was disrupted due to the shoulder injury he suffered in the opening exchanges against France last month.
On the replacements bench, Nathan Hines (Perpignan) has proved his fitness after being sidelined by a knee injury since January, while the vacancy amongst the reserve backs will be filled by Edinburgh centre Nick De Luca.
Scotland coach Frank Hadden said: “Both Jim Hamilton and Nathan Hines have emerged unscathed from a tough couple of days’ training and Jim will be in the starting line-up with Nathan on the bench.
“We are delighted to have players of this quality available to us; but equally delighted that Alastair Kellock made it such a difficult decision for us by the quality of his performance against Italy.”
SCOTLAND TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Ireland, 2009 RBS 6 Nations Championship, Murrayfield, Saturday, March 14, kick-off 5pm):
15 – Chris Paterson (Edinburgh)
14 – Simon Danielli (Ulster)
13 – Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors)
12 – Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors)
11 – Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors)
10 – Phil Godman (Edinburgh)
9 – Mike Blair (Edinburgh) (capt)
1 – Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester)
2 – Ross Ford (Edinburgh)
3 – Euan Murray (Northampton Saints)
4 – Jason White (Sale Sharks)
5 – Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh)
6 – Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester)
7 – John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)
8 – Simon Taylor (Stade Francais)
Replacements:
16 – Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors)
17 – Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors)
18 – Nathan Hines (Perpignan)
19 – Scott Gray (Northampton Saints)
20 – Chris Cusiter (Perpignan)
21 – Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
22 – Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh)