Scotland recall Macfadyen for Boks
Hogg fit to start
Scotland coach Frank Hadden has backed Donnie Macfadyen to prove he is "the man for the occasion" after handing the little Glasgow Warriors flank a berth in the XV to face South Africa in Durban on Saturday.
The 26-year-old will resume his international career at the ABSA Stadium almost 19 months after his last appearance in a royal blue jersey.
Macfadyen will start on the openside against the Springboks – the same opposition he faced in his last game for the Scots in November 2004.
Macfadyen was sidelined for 15 months with a troublesome knee injury but made his return for the Scots in the 66-19 win over the Barbarians last week.
Now the Scotland boss is convinced the player will prove his worth against South Africa.
"Donnie did well when he came on last week," said Hadden.
"He is an experienced international player and we believe he is the man for the occasion on Saturday."
Macfadyen slots into the place vacated by Allister Hogg, who replaces Simon Taylor at the base of the scrum.
With Taylor recovering from knee surgery, there had been a doubt over the fitness of Hogg who was forced out of the win against the Baa-Baas with a hamstring injury, but the 23-year-old has fully recovered to take his place in the starting XV.
Scott Lawson will start the game at hooker, while Nathan Hines partners Scott Murray in the second row.
The Scotland boss concedes he had a difficult choice over the hooker position – an area which proved troublesome during the Six Nations championship.
"Both hookers threw in very well last week and, as ever with selection, it is a case of trying to keep a blend between continuity, competition for places and experience," said Hadden.
"We are very much looking forward to Saturday's match. We know Scotland have never beaten South Africa here and that the Springboks are unbeaten at home for the last two years.
"We also know that they represent a formidable physical challenge.
"We have made some progress this year and Saturday will give us a good indication of where we stand against one of the top sides in the world."
Hadden will cut one player from his nominated bench ahead of the match in Durban.
The first Test comes almost 100 years after the Scots first played the Springboks – a 6-0 triumph for the home side at Hampden Park in Glasgow in November 1906.
Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh Gunners), 14 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Gunners), 13 Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh Gunners), 12 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), 11 Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints), 10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), 9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Gunners), 8 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Gunners), 7 Donnie Macfadyen (Glasgow Warriors), 6 Jason White (Sale Sharks, captain), 5 Scott Murray (Edinburgh Gunners), 4 Nathan Hines (Perpignan), 3 Bruce Douglas (Border Reivers), 2 Scott Lawson (Glasgow Warriors), 1 Gavin Kerr (Leeds Tykes).
Replacement: (from) Dougie Hall (Edinburgh Gunners), Craig Smith (Edinburgh Gunners), Alastair Kellock (Edinburgh Gunners), Jon Petrie (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Border Reivers), Sam Pinder (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Ross (Leeds Tykes), Simon Webster (Edinburgh Gunners).
Date: Saturday, June 10
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Venue: ABSA Stadium, Durban
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Rob Debney (England)
Television match official: Simon MacDowell (Ireland)
Assessor: Jim Bailey (Wales)
