Scotland ring the changes to Face Ireland

First topic message reminder :

Scotsman Article

So from the above article it seems Robinson is resting Kelly Brown, Mike Blair, Chris Cusiter, Euan Murray and Nathan Hines for this weekend's clash with Ireland.

Under those circumstances what do we think the XXII will look like for Ireland and what tactics could be employed to beat them.

As noted in the article the backrow is the area that is giving Robinson a headache but he has also eluded to NDL and Morrison training well for the centre berth.

I think this weekend will see a XXII something like this.

1. Jacobsen
2. Ford
3. Cross
4. Gray
5. Kellock (C)
6. Harley
7. Barclay
8. Denton

9. Laidlaw
10. Jackson
11. Danielli
12. S. Lamont
13. Ansbro
14. R. Lamont
15. Mossy

Dickinson, S Lawson, Hamilton, Beattie, R Lawson, Morrison, Cuthbert

I think this gives us a good mix of some of our newer players and some of the more experienced guys. it will also give AR a chance to check if Beattie is fit enough to be back in the 1st XV without the pressure of a Starting position.

It will also give Denton and Harley a chance to test themselves against Irelands Wrecking ball backrow combo of Ferris and SOB if Kidney decides to play them. What you guys think?

Edit, KRD - just combining some of the Scotland vs Ireland threads.
Actual team as named:

15 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh)
14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys)
13 Joe Ansbro (London Irish)
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Sean Lamont (Scarlets)
10 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester) (C)

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh)
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh)
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh)
4 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester)
5 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester)
8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh)

Substitutes

16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors)
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks)
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors)
19 David Denton (Edinburgh)
20 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh)
21 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
22 Jack Cuthbert (Bath)

A lot of bookies still have Irealand as Favs, I have just put my £10 coupon on.

Scotland to win by 16 to 20, and a pound on either Walker, Lamont, Ansbro, Rennie or Beattie to get the 1st try.

Best case scenario I could get over a hundred quid back.

Also, he shouldn't be panned utterly if he has a poor game on his first game of rugby since November! He needs a few games before we can take any meaningful judgement on where he is in terms of form. Unless he has an unmitigated disaster out there.

Bookies odds are set to make money, not to suggest statistically who will win.

Rugger, that looks a good bet (giving Scotland the kiss of death with that remark), hope you collect.

RDW_Scotland wrote:BBC2 Scotland. It was fairly late in the day (only last week I think) that the SRU announced they had arranged a deal.

Thank you.