RugbyRebels

Big D wrote:Hines following VC to France.

Matt Ha wrote:Is Seymour injured again? And I would have preferred to have seen Hoyland. Much that I like Hughs he seems to be a Lamont Mk 2.

10 NOV TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT | FORD TO ‘TON UP’ AGAINST AUSTRALIA

Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby hooker Ross Ford is set to earn his 100th cap for the national team after he was named to start against Australia in this Saturday’s Autumn Test match at BT Murrayfield (12 November, kick-off 2.30pm) – live on BBC.

Ford made his international debut when he replaced Gordon Bulloch against the Wallabies in Edinburgh in 2004 and has been a mainstay of the Scotland front-row since his return to the jersey two years later, starting 83 of his Test appearances to date.

He follows in the footsteps of Scotland’s two other cap centurions in the men’s game, record cap holder Chris Paterson (109) and Sean Lamont (105).

Ford’s extensive experience could prove invaluable this weekend as he prepares to pack down between clubmate Allan Dell – who will mark his debut with a starting spot in the loosehead berth – and once-capped, 20-year-old tighthead prop, Zander Fagerson.

Fagerson is one of three players to earn his first Scotland start at BT Murrayfield, with the scintillating form of Edinburgh Rugby back-row Hamish Watson and Stormers centre Huw Jones rewarded with a place in the back-row and midfield respectively.

Scotland Head Coach, Vern Cotter, said: “Congratulations first to Ross Ford on reaching this special milestone. It’s fantastic for him and his family that he’ll achieve it in front of the home fans at BT Murrayfield, who I’m sure will give him a great reception.

“To play 100 Test matches for your country is an incredible achievement, with his lasting dedication keeping him among the best hookers in the world for a decade.

“He is a consummate professional and, at 32, he has plenty left to give in a Scotland jersey.”

The long-awaited fixture between the two nations is on target to be played in front of a home record crowd for the fixture, surpassing the previous highest attendance set more than ten years ago (64,120).

Cotter added: “It’s been eight months since we last played at home so the players are desperate to get out there and put in another winning performance in front of our home support.

“We’ve prepared well over the past couple of weeks in camp, with the players working hard technically and tactically for what will undoubtedly be a tough Test match against one of the world’s top teams.

“We must not relent in our pursuit of success and to do the Scottish people proud.”

John Barclay and Ryan Wilson complete the loose forwards with the increasingly ever-present partnership of brothers Jonny and Richie Gray filing into the second-row.

In the backs, Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell will reform their pivotal partnership – with Russell long-since recovered from the head injury that ruled him out of the summer Tests – while Alex Dunbar – another to miss the tour through injury – joins Jones in a new-look centre partnership.

The starting line-up is completed with the selection of Stuart Hogg, Tim Visser and Sean Maitland in the back three, with Tommy Seymour unavailable for personal reasons.

Another notable inclusion appears among the replacements with Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Ali Price set to make his debut if called upon from the bench.

Price is one of two players originally listed as ‘training with the squad’ to be given the nod by Cotter for this Saturday’s Test, with replacement wing Rory Hughes in line to make a first home appearance.

Scotland team to play Australia at BT Murrayfield Stadium Saturday 12 November (kick-off 2.30pm) – live on BBC

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 45 caps; 11 tries, 3 pens, 64 points

14 Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 23 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
13 Huw Jones (Stormers) – 1 cap
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 16 caps; 5 tries, 25 points
11 Tim Visser (Harlequins) – 26 caps; 11 tries, 55 points

10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps; 2 tries, 3 cons, 1 pen, 19 points
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester) – 53 caps; 4 tries, 66 cons, 128 pens, 536 points

1 Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 99 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
3 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap
4 Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 58 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 25 caps; 1 try, 5 points
6 John Barclay (Scarlets) – 52 caps; 4 tries, 20 points
7 Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps
8 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps

Substitutes

16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps
18 Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 34 caps
19 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps; 1 try, 5 points
20 John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
21 Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped
22 Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps; 2 tries, 1 con, 1 pen, 15 points
23 Rory Hughes (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap

Unavailable through injury: Alasdair Dickinson (hamstring), Josh Strauss (calf), Duncan Taylor (lower leg).

Cameo wrote:Ok, with the injuries and "personal reasons" then the team isn't that surprising after all

Big D wrote:Seems like as good a blend of stability and experimentation given the circumstances IMO.

Seymour being out is a bummer. Hopefully his personal issues are nothing too serious. I think most can sympathise with that.
Jones at 13 is a form call. Surprised Bennett isn't in the 23 though, he offers a lot more than Hughes who I wouldn't put on even if a winger was hurt. A massive slap in Hoylands puss.
Wilson over Strauss is a 50/50, I am not a fan of him but good luck to him.

Dell is an interesting one, I assume he has out performed Reid in training and I am not sure VC is a big fan of his. May also be indicative of a game plan to move the ball around. It is a mobile pack.

Price on the bench is a positive experiment. May offer a change of pace. Time will tell.

Adder wrote:

Big D wrote:Seems like as good a blend of stability and experimentation given the circumstances IMO.

Seymour being out is a bummer. Hopefully his personal issues are nothing too serious. I think most can sympathise with that.
Jones at 13 is a form call. Surprised Bennett isn't in the 23 though, he offers a lot more than Hughes who I wouldn't put on even if a winger was hurt. A massive slap in Hoylands puss.
Wilson over Strauss is a 50/50, I am not a fan of him but good luck to him.

Dell is an interesting one, I assume he has out performed Reid in training and I am not sure VC is a big fan of his. May also be indicative of a game plan to move the ball around. It is a mobile pack.

Price on the bench is a positive experiment. May offer a change of pace. Time will tell.

Strauss is injured.

Big D wrote:Talking about the game then, I wonder if we will try and offload a lot more to counter act Pooper. Maybe hitting up a bit wider and look to offload ?

Adder wrote:Quite a Few surprises:

Allan Dell, Ford, Fargerson
Grays
Watson, Wilson, Barclay

Laidlaw , Russel
Dunbar,Jones
Visser, Hogg, Maitland

16 Brown
17 Reid
18 Low
19 Gilchrist
20 Hardie
21 Price
22 Horne
23 Hughes

OptimisticJock wrote:There's a hundred caps in that front row, should be enough experience.