Scotland start for John Beattie

March 14, 2007

Scotland start for John Beattie

Posted by Editor on March 14, 2007 01:32 PM | 15 comments | Print | E-mail author

John Beattie starts for Scotland

Scotland are making five changes in personnel and two further positional switches for their final match in the RBS 6 Nations Championship against France in Paris on Saturday.

Introduced to the team are scrum-half Rory Lawson and hooker Ross Ford, both making their first starts for their country, wing Nikki Walker, his first starting cap for five years, centre Andrew Henderson and No 8 Johnnie Beattie.

Chris Paterson – who set two Scotland Six Nations records last week for most points (61) and most penalties (16) in a championship – moves from wing to full-back following Hugo Southwell's shoulder injury and Rob Dewey will operate at outside centre.

Omitted from the team defeated 18-19 by Ireland last weekend are Dougie Hall, Chris Cusiter, Marcus Di Rollo and Dave Callam.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden said: "We are keen to give Ross Ford, John Beattie and Rory Lawson an opportunity to start a Six Nations match in order for us to learn a bit more about them. We are confident in their ability and they get this chance to prove they are capable of starting a game of this importance.

"In pairing Rob Dewey with Andrew Henderson in the centre and also in selecting Nikki Walker, whose qualities will suit the way we wish to play on Saturday, we will have a very big back division, full of pace and power."

Scotland team (sponsor The Famous Grouse) to play France in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Stade de France, Paris on Saturday 17 March, kick-off 3.30pm GMT

15 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby) CAPTAIN

14 Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints)
13 Rob Dewey (Edinburgh Rugby)
12 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Nikki Walker (The Ospreys)

10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester)

1 Gavin Kerr (Border Reivers)
2 Ross Ford (Border Reivers)*
3 Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors)*
4 Nathan Hines (Perpignan)
5 Scott Murray (Edinburgh Rugby)
6 Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Rugby)*
8 John Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)*
7 Kelly Brown (Border Reivers)*

Substitutes

16 Dougie Hall (Edinburgh Rugby)
17 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby)
18 Jim Hamilton (Leicester Tigers)
19 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Rugby)*
20 Chris Cusiter (Border Reivers)*
21 Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh Rugby)
22 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors)

* = Member of Scottish Institute of Sport

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa).
Touch-judges: Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan). TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Posted by garyipa on March 14, 2007 01:53 PM | Reply to this comment

Not a bad back line considering injuries, good to see walker start. MdR adds nothing to the bench. Would be better to have Godman

Posted by Ab on March 14, 2007 02:06 PM | Reply to this comment

Good to see some changes - all of which look positive. Fingers crossed for the boys. Go Johnnie... GO!!!!!!!!

Posted by ballinj on March 14, 2007 02:12 PM | Reply to this comment

can't help but feel and opportunity missed. One of these days Hadden will admit he is wrong and make the necessary changes. Why not give Paterson a game at Fly Half. At worst it would shut everyone up. Why not play Lamont at Full back as he is a destructive runner. WHy not play a proper no.7 at no.7. Barclay has played well maybe even best player this season for glasgow.

Still hope they win and pleased that some changes have been made. Di Rollo while not a bad player needs time and a chance to regain his confidence.

Posted by gnasher on March 14, 2007 08:12 PM | Reply to this comment

Quite agree. Whilst I'm on record as thinking that Dan is about as good as it gets at present, I would love to see CP get a proper run at it to see if he could fulfil his 18 year old promise. And as an ex No 7 (many years ago) I think it is still a specialist position that is key to getting and keeping the 50/50 balls. Good to see JB back.

Posted by gnasher on March 14, 2007 08:34 PM | Reply to this comment

Posted by Moody Blue on March 14, 2007 04:53 PM | Reply to this comment

One of the interesting features of this XV is the even spread of the teams the players come from:
4 from Glasgow - Henderson, Parks, Murray, Beattie; 3 from Borders - Kerr, Ford, Brown; 4 Exiles - Lamont, Hines, Lawson and Walker; and only 4 from Edinburgh - Paterson, Dewey, Murray and Taylor. It is not so long ago that Edinburgh would have 10 or 11 players in the starting XV. Not sure what the significance is but it appears to say it doesn't matter where you play - if you're good enough you'll get a chance

Posted by Hannah on March 14, 2007 06:37 PM | Reply to this comment

glad John is playing! He deserves it!

Posted by jamie feg on March 15, 2007 12:13 AM | Reply to this comment

johnnie is a good choice shame its not alongside hogg and taylor. I dont think it would be good to stick cp in at fly half. apart from the world cup he has no experience at fly half. he is winger/fullback minded. He would run it too much. I like dan parks there although he is not perfect scotland really needs a new, good fly half and centre and a hell of a lot of money to improve rugby in scotland. Mon the scots anyway. always have the faith. jah!!

Posted by Scott on March 15, 2007 02:49 AM | Reply to this comment

I'm with you Jamie!

Always have the faith.

We need Muffles to patrol the close channels and Dewey to scare the livin daylights out of them in the middle of the line. He'll have more time to build up speed from back at 13!

Intae them!

Posted by ballinj on March 15, 2007 01:16 PM | Reply to this comment

agree that Parks is the best fly half however until CP is given a chance at fly half then there will be this incessant whinging from the eastern half of the country about how good a fly half he is and bad Parks is.

After he has fallen flat on his face and been steam rollered by every large centre and back row player maybe we can all get back to watching DP control a game, convert penalties and get the backs moving as he does for glasgow week in week out

Posted by hannah on March 15, 2007 03:13 PM | Reply to this comment

dont see what was wrong with keeping chris cusiter starting. He made up for the Italy game on Saturday!

Posted by jamiefeg on March 15, 2007 06:36 PM | Reply to this comment

Is dewey going to be fast enough at 13?? i think he is a good 12 because of his size and power. I think 13 might be left for dead. He got a lesson on how to play centre against Ireland. Even paul O'connell skinned him. good luck to him though. I think Cusiter is better than lawson. I want to see him play though Cusiter is just back from fitness and has had some tough games.

Posted by mediumsizedal on March 15, 2007 09:44 PM | Reply to this comment

Good to see CP at full back-I think it's his best position-the one thing Scotland has at present is a good crop of wingers. Dewey & Henderson might work at centre-at least it's worth trying, it can't be worse that De Rollo/Dewey. Glad FH is sticking with DP at flyhalf-I was pretty sure he would play Godman this game!! Still not to keen on Scott Murray-he's gone off the boil a bit & Kellock might have been worth a go. Back row looks better balanced, but would be better with a genuine openside-maybe FH thinks Barclay isn't ready for the step up-I just hope Beattie is strong enough-he is undoubtedly a good footballer, but not a great ball carrier going by Glasgow's games. Still, FH has taken positive steps and let's give it a good go against France!!

Posted by The Briar on March 16, 2007 11:16 PM | Reply to this comment

Can someone correct me if I am wrong but hasn't CP had a shot a flyhalf a couple of years ago. DP directed them around the park very well last week and they did only just get beaten by probably the second favourites for the upcoming world cup. Stick with DP this is a tough game but the Scots can win this one with a good team effort. Good Luck Boys..

Posted by The Briar on March 16, 2007 11:16 PM | Reply to this comment