| TEN WARRIORS PICKED FOR ITALIAN JOB |
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| Wednesday, 24 February 2010 | |
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Glasgow head coach Sean Lineen has picked ten Warriors in a young squad to face Italy A in Biella on Friday evening (26 February, kick off 7pm UK time). Following the defeat at Ireland Wolfhounds earlier in the month, Lineen has reshuffled his starting line-up which now has an average age of 25 and contains just seven capped internationalists. Wing Simon Webster, who has 37 senior caps for Scotland, is the most experienced player in the side while up-and-coming players, Alex Grove, Kyle Traynor, Richie Gray and Richie Vernon have less than a handful of Test appearances each.
As a result, Lineen says the new-look Scotland A side has the necessary desire to succeed and youthful enthusiasm to produce a memorable performance in northern Italy. Lineen said: “I’m really excited about the group of players we’ve selected. This is about players wanting to make that next step and a lot of these players are trying to make a name for themselves in the game. “This match is a step along that route towards playing regular Test rugby for Scotland. “What we will have out in Italy is 15 guys with a tremendous work-rate who will keep it simple, but within that framework there will be plenty of opportunities for them to have a go. “I saw Alex Grove during the IRB Nations Cup in the summer and he also played well during the Autumn Tests. “Richie Vernon is coming back from injury and Richie Gray had a taste of playing for Scotland. “All these players now have an opportunity to shine and put their hands up for Scotland selection.” Euan Murray, Jim Hamilton and Mike Blair all featured in Scotland’s last RBS 6 Nations match after featuring for Scotland A three weeks ago and Lineen believes the Italy A match is the perfect platform. He added: “Mike Blair, Euan Murray and Jim Hamilton are now all back in the Scotland set-up, so it shows that this team is used as a platform. “As long as the players play as a team within the structure and respect what we’re about then it works out positively for everyone involved. “In Italy, we’ve got to adapt accordingly and it will be a real test for the players in terms of their skills and decision making when we are out there.” Scrum half Greig Laidlaw has been handed the captaincy while Mark Robertson, who scored a try in Belfast, is promoted into the starting line-up. In the pack, prop Jon Welsh, lock Scott MacLeod and flanker James Eddie all keep their starting spots while playmaker Ruaridh Jackson retains the number 10 jersey. Meanwhile, on the bench, Glasgow centre Peter Murchie, 24, could potentially win his first Scotland A cap. Scotland A team (sponsor Murray) to play Italy A at Biella on Friday 26 February (kick-off 7pm UK time) 15 Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors) 14 Mark Robertson (Edinburgh) 10 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 1 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors) Replacements |
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