Robinson warns of Samoan threat
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has challenged his team to step up their performance in Saturday’s final year-end Test against Samoa at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen.
Robinson has made one change in personnel from the team that started last week’s 21-17 victory over world champions South Africa at Murrayfield.
Richie Vernon, the 23-year-old Glasgow Warrior, who enjoyed a considerable impact off the bench, will make his second start for Scotland at No.8, with Nathan Hines switching to his optimum berth of lock and Kelly Brown reverting to blindside flank.
On the bench, scrumhalf Mike Blair has recovered from the head knock he sustained against New Zealand and is preferred to Greig Laidlaw and Max Evans returns after his shoulder injury from the same game instead of Chris Paterson.
“Our supporters were understandably delighted by our win against South Africa, but that game is now history and we have to start afresh against quality international opposition in Samoa,” Robinson said.
“They will bring their own very physical, hard-running dimension to Saturday’s game and we need to be absolutely focused on upping our performance this weekend.”
Robinson went on: “I thought Richie Vernon showed his mettle as an international rugby player when he came on for Scott MacLeod last Saturday and he has a chance to demonstrate those traits from the start on Saturday.
“I also want to congratulate Chunk [Allan Jacobsen] and Sean Lamont as this weekend will mark their 50th caps.
“Both have had periods of injury adversity in their careers but they have shown the sort of determination we will need on Saturday to return from such experiences to be better players for it.”
Jacobsen becomes the 29th Scot, Lamont the 30th, to reach the milestone, while Dan Parks equalled John Rutherford’s drop-goal record for Scotland when he landed his 12th such score last Saturday.
Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Joe Ansbro, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Rory Lawson (captain), 8 Richie Vernon, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Moray Low, 18 Jim Hamilton, 19 Ross Rennie, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Ruaridh Jackson, 22 Max Evans.
Date: Saturday, November 27
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker and Cobus Wessels (both South Africa)
TMO: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
