Hadden rings the changes - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Hadden rings the changes

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has made sweeping changes to his team for Sunday's Murrayfield clash with New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup - but denies he has picked a reserve team.

He retains just two of the players who started Tuesday's 42-0 win over Romania - Chris Paterson starts at stand-off after lining up on the wing in midweek, and Simon Webster slots in on the wing having been deployed at outside centre against Romania.

Prop Alasdair Dickinson and flanker John Barclay win their first caps as Hadden opts out of selecting his first-choice team against the World Cup favourites, apparently with one eye on the all-important Italy clash in Pool C on September 29.

Gloucester front-rower Dickinson was not in Scotland's original 30-man squad but was called up to replace Allan Jacobsen when the Edinburgh man was forced out of the tournament through injury.

Scott Murray, Scotland's most-capped player, captains the side and Chris Cusiter comes in for Mike Blair at scrum-half.

Andrew Henderson, scorer of a hat-trick of tries in the warm-up victory over Ireland last month, comes back into the side after recovering from a leg injury.

Despite the many changes, Hadden told www.scottishrugby.org: "I utterly reject the notion this is a second-string, weakened or reserve Scotland team."

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music

Grandpa Bob

Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London