Scotland team finalised

March 11, 2009

Scotland team finalised

Posted by Editor on March 11, 2009 01:28 PM | 7 comments | Print | E-mail author

Alastair Kellock has missed out on selection in teh Scotland team to play Ireland

Scotland have have confirmed the team to take on Ireland at Murrafield on Saturday.

Jim Hamilton, returns to the second-row resuming his partnership with Jason White that was disrupted through the shoulder injury he suffered in the opening exchanges against France last month.

On the bench, Nathan Hines (Perpignan) has proved his fitness after being sidelined by a knee injury since January, while the vacancy among the 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

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) CAPTAIN

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)
8 Simon Taylor (Edinburgh)
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)

Substitutes

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)

Posted by manattheback on March 11, 2009 06:40 PM | Reply to this comment

Now let's think - Haddy the Maddy has 3 second rows to choose from, lumbering Jim Hamilton, aggressive Nathan Hines or athletic Al Kellock, who played well in the last game. Who does he choose? as usual logic goes out the window with selection this season and he picks lumbering Jim! Unbelievable!

Posted by andy on March 11, 2009 06:43 PM | Reply to this comment

what has white done to stay in the team?

Posted by gnasher on March 12, 2009 10:55 AM | Reply to this comment

I can see an argument for Hamilton to front up to the bulk of the Irish pack but leaving out the best line out jumper against the Irish? Backs selection has an air of sanity about it though I would have thought that Cusiter had done enough to get a start. Lets hope the forwards provide sufficient decent ball for them to demonstrate their potential.

Posted by Hugues on March 12, 2009 01:16 PM | Reply to this comment

I don't agree about Hamilton.
Last year i thought, he was a big lump, but he has improved a lot, and the 5 front row needs some weight V Ireland.

Posted by jonboy on March 13, 2009 08:11 AM | Reply to this comment

Its been made pretty clear what AK has to do to be in the Scotland team - improve his contribution at the breakdown with and without the ball. The days when you pick a 2nd row solely based on his lineout ability are gone, all front 5 have to be ball carriers now. Currently he has neither he physique nor the physicality on the park to be anything other than a back up.

Posted by alsfan on March 13, 2009 11:49 AM | Reply to this comment

There are times when Hadden picks the heaviest guys for the scrum. All AK needs to do is be a bigger guy :( ...since that is not an option, I'm sure he will continue to show his skill, effort and commitment.

Posted by weebaw on March 14, 2009 12:25 PM | Reply to this comment

Ach its the usual edinburgh bias from haddy. Hamilton has done well but a mix of kellock and hines sounds great to me. If hines isnt quite fit then he could always replace white at some stage.
To drop the m o m from last game is crazy.

Also, Kellock clearly won the physical battle vs hamilton in the last game against embra.