Hogg wins first start for Scotland
Published 22 Feb 2012 09:30
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GLASGOW Warriors teenage full-back Stuart Hogg will make his first start for Scotland in Sunday's RBS 6 Nations Championship match against France at Murrayfield.
Hogg, a product of the Hawick club, will be joined by his Warriors' team-mates, centre Graeme Morrison and flanker John Barclay in the starting line-up, while a fourth change in personnel from the team that lost against Wales earlier this month sees Edinburgh Rugby's Mike Blair preferred to his fellow British Lion, Chris Cusiter at scrum-half.
There are two further positional switches with Rory Lamont moving to the right wing and his elder brother Sean moving to outside centre.
Cusiter and Nick De Luca are now on the bench, where Richie Vernon will be involved for the first time in a match-day 22 since the Rugby World Cup pool match against England last October.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: "Stuart Hogg did well off the bench in Cardiff, stood out in the A team victory over England Saxons and has been one of Glasgow's most consistent performers this season. He fully deserves his first start."
Hogg, who comes from a renowned rugby family, said: "It's a dream come true to play international rugby. When I was a kid we'd play full contact rugby in the street in the Weensland area of Hawick. I'd be about five and there would be kids there up to about 12 or 13-years-old and you'd always think about what it would be like to play for Scotland. Now I've got the opportunity to win for Scotland at Murrayfield - brilliant."
Robinson acknowledged that the ankle injury sustained by Max Evans against Wales earlier this month and which ruled him out of this game influenced his selection.
"Graeme Morrison has worked hard back at Glasgow and captained the team in their games against Scarlets and Connacht. He is a good ball carrier and has something to prove on his return to the Scotland team," noted Robinson.
Sunday's match is a 67,144 full-house at Murrayfield and supporters are again reminded to allow extra time to reach the stadium on account of ongoing road and tram works in Edinburgh, while supporters travelling by train from the north, north-east, Tayside and Fife are also advised of engineering works being carried out by Network Rail which will extend their journey times.
There will be extensive pre-match entertainment in the stadium and its grounds and two recently retired Scotland players will deliver the match ball pre-match.
Supporters have the chance to acclaim Nathan Hines, the 77-times-capped lock and back-row forward who brought a heady mix of aggression and skill to the Scotland jersey over 11 years; and Dan Parks, the 67-times-capped stand-off, who proved Scotland's match-winner on many occasions in his eight year international career, during which he became Scotland's record drop-goal holder with some 17 strikes.
Scotland team (sponsor RBS) to play France in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Sunday 26 February, kick-off 3pm
15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
14 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps, 6 tries, 30 points
13 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 62 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
10 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 4 caps, 1 try, 1 conversion, 2 penalties, 13 points
9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 77 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 62 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 55 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 10 caps
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 18 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 34 caps, 2 tries 10 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 13 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps
Substitutes
16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 31 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Ed Kalman (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 38 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks) 15 caps
20 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 57 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
21 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
22 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 31 caps, 1 try, 5 points
Not considered due to injury: Max Evans (Castres), Joe Ansbro (London Irish), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) and Kelly Brown (Saracens).
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England). Assistant referees: Alain Rolland and Simon McDowell (both Ireland). TMO: Geoff Warren (England).
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