Jackson to run the show for Scots
Ruaridh Jackson will start at flyhalf in place of Dan Parks for Scotland in their crunch Pool B clash with Argentina in Wellington on Sunday because of his superior passing and running game.
Jackson is one of five changes from the team that beat Georgia 15-6 last week, coach Andy Robinson also recalling Scotland’s most-capped player Chris Paterson at fullback instead of Rory Lamont.
Up front, prop Geoff Cross, lock Richie Gray and openside flank John Barclay replace Euan Murray, Nathan Hines and Ross Rennie, with Murray ruled out of Sunday’s match because of his religious beliefs.
Scrumhalf Rory Lawson will skipper the team for the game that will likely decide the group runners-up.
“I have picked a team to beat Argentina,” said Robinson, the former England flank and coach.
“The selection is simply about this match and we must view it as another match, while affording our opponents the respect they deserve. We have met Argentina five times since the last Rugby World Cup so we both know each others’ styles and strengths,” he added.
Robinson said that his team could draw confidence from a first southern hemisphere Test series win over Argentina last summer, but warned that Los Pumas were an improving side.
“We can draw confidence from our victories in Tucuman and Mar del Plata last year, just as Argentina will retain happy memories from their win at Murrayfield in 2009,” he said.
“I also believe that Argentina – as they have already demonstrated in the last two months – are a better team than we faced on their soil last year.”
The Scottish have notched up two wins from two games played, beating Romania (34-24) and Georgia (15-6), while Los Pumas lost to England (13-9) before rebounding to beat the Romanians (43-8).
Scotland: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Max Evans, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Rory Lawson (captain), 8 Kelly Brown, 7 John Barclay, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Nathan Hines, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Simon Danielli.
Date: Sunday, September 25
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 20.30 (02.30 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
