Four changes for Scotland - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Four changes for Scotland

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has made four changes in personnel for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash with France at Murrayfield.

Stuart Hogg is to make his first Test start at full-back, with his Glasgow Warriors team-mates John Barclay and Graeme Morrison recalled at blindside flanker and inside centre, respectively.

Mike Blair has been called up at scrum-half, with two positional switches - Sean Lamont moving from inside to outside centre and Rory Lamont from full-back to the right wing.

Two of the changes were enforced, with Barclay replacing Alasdair Strokosch, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a fractured hand, and wing Max Evans unavailable for selection due to an ankle injury.

Strokosch and Evans joined London Irish centre Joe Ansbro and Saracens back-row Kelly Brown in being unavailable for selection.

Hooker Ross Ford has been retained as captain and is joined in the front row by Edinburgh team-mates Allan Jacobsen and Geoff Cross, who lines up at tighthead with Euan Murray unavailable for Sunday games for religious reasons.

Richie Gray is joined in the second row by Jim Hamilton, who has shaken off a throat infection, while the back row is comprised of Barclay, Ross Rennie and David Denton.

Blair, who replaces Chris Cusiter at scrum-half, joins fly-half Greig Laidlaw at half-back, having combined effectively for Edinburgh this season.

Scotland team to play France in the RBS 6 Nations match at Murrayfield on Sunday, February 26 (kick-off 1500): S Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); R Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), S Lamont (Scarlets), G Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), L Jones (Edinburgh); G Laidlaw (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (capt, Edinburgh), G Cross (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow Warriors), J Hamilton (Gloucester), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), R Rennie (Edinburgh), D Denton (Edinburgh).

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), E Kalman (Glasgow Warriors), A Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), R Vernon (Sale Sharks), C Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), D Weir (Glasgow Warriors), N De Luca (Edinburgh).

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking