Six Nations:Scotland have made four changes in personnel and a further positional switch for Sunday's Calcutta Cup clash with England in the Six Nations at Twickenham.
The changes see Simon Danielli, Joe Ansbro and Rory Lawson listed in the back division, while Nathan Hines is re-introduced in the blindside flanker berth he occupied against France in the first game of the championship, with Kelly Brown moving to number eight from the side of the scrum.
It will be Danielli’s first start of the championship; Ansbro returns after missing the Ireland game through concussion in a club match; and Lawson is back in the number nine shirt he wore against the Wales.
Edinburgh duo Mike Blair and Nick De Luca will be on the bench, where they are joined for the first time in this championship by Gloucester flanker, Alasdair Strokosch, after the 28-year-old missed the Autumn Tests on account of a knee injury.
Wing Nikki Walker and number eight Johnnie Beattie are omitted altogether from the team that lost 18-21 to Ireland in Scotland’s last outing.
This weekend’s game marks 100 years since the first time Scotland visited Twickenham to face England.
In total they have played at “Billy Williams’ cabbage patch” on 44 occasions and have won on only four of them – the most recent 28 years ago.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “The record books show what a special achievement it would be for the Scotland team to win on Sunday.
That is our intention and we firmly believe that if we can deliver a sustained, intelligent and ruthless performance then we can achieve our first win of this season’s championship.
“England have played some good rugby in this championship but Sunday is about our performance. Simon Danielli and Rory Lawson have both been playing well for their clubs and Joe Ansbro was unfortunate to miss the game against Ireland through injury, while Nathan Hines’ experience will be an asset for us in our backrow.”
Scotland team (v England):Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) (Capt), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Kelly Brown (Saracens), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
