The alterations in the starting team following last weekend’s Calcutta Cup defeat see a first start for Edinburgh Rugby captain Greig Laidlaw in the number ten shirt, replacing Dan Parks, while his club mate Geoff Cross comes in at tight-head prop for the unavailable Euan Murray.

On the bench, three uncapped players have been called-up, all rewarded for recent form in the colours of both Glasgow Warriors and Scotland A – prop Ed Kalman, 20-year-old stand-off Duncan Weir and 19-year-old full-back Stuart Hogg. Weir and Hogg both scored fine individual tries in Scotland A’s 35-0 win against their English counterparts last week.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “Congratulations to Greig on his first start. He is a gifted footballer who is acclimatising very well to the differing demands of the stand-off position from having spent most of his career at scrum-half.

“Having lost last weekend, I believe the time is right to move on and look to develop our emerging talent at stand-off.

“I’ve always stressed the importance of the A team and the part that both Duncan Weir and Stuart Hogg played in the game at Netherdale last week is another reason for my continued excitement and belief in Scottish rugby.”

Laidlaw, 26, nephew of another of Jed-Forest’s favourite sons, the former Scotland and Lions scrum-half, Roy Laidlaw, has also graduated from the ranks of Scotland A and Scotland 7s.

In the pack, Geoff Cross, who made his debut against Wales three years ago, is promoted from the bench and given the opportunity to display the form that has been such a part of Edinburgh’s run to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.

Scotland team (sponsor RBS) to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday 12 February, kick-off 3pm

15 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 61 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
11 Max Evans (Castres) 25 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

10 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps
9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 56 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 61 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 17 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 35 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 24 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 12 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps

Substitutes

16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 30 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Ed Kalman (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 37 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 33 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 76 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
21 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
22 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped

Referee: Romain Poite (France). Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon and Simon McDowell (both Ireland). TMO: Giulio de Santis (Italy)

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Graham Law
Senior Media Manager - Scotland and Community
Tel: +44 (0)131 346 5164
Mob: +44 (0)7764 178940
Fax: +44 (0)131 346 5192
email: graham.law@sru.org.uk

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