VERN COTTER HAS thrown Blair Cowan straight into Rugby World Cup action for Scotland as they prepare to face South Africa at St James’ Park.
Cowan was added to Cotter’s 31-man squad on Tuesday following Grant Gilchrist’s withdrawal with a groin injury, and he will make his World Cup bow in Saturday’s Pool B clash.
The back-row forward is one of three players making their first appearance in this year’s competition, part of 10 changes made by Cotter from the XV that beat the United States.
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Gordon Reid and Richie Vernon join Cowan in making their bow in the tournament, while Edinburgh scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne could join them if brought on from the bench.
However Scotland will be without the services of exciting outhalf Finn Russell, who is sidelined with injury.
Greig Laidlaw captains the side from number nine, while the Gray brothers – Jonny and Richie – will start in the second row together for the seventh time.
Scotland top the group heading into the match with the Springboks after bonus-point wins over Japan and USA, but Cotter knows they face a big challenge to maintain that form.
“This is a massive test for our team,” he said. “Playing South Africa is one of the biggest challenges you can face as a rugby player.
“We’ll need to be very good on the day.”
Scotland XV
15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Richie Vernon
12 Matt Scott
11 Tim Visser
10 Duncan Weir
9 Greig Laidlaw
1 Gordon Reid
2 Fraser Brown
3 Willem Nel
4 Richie Gray
5 Jonny Gray
6 Josh Strauss
7 Blair Cowan
8 David Denton
Replacements
16 Ross Ford
17 Alasdair Dickinson
18 Jon Welsh
19 Tim Swinson
20 Ryan Wilson
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Peter Horne
23 Sean Lamont
Finn Russell injury a huge blow for Scotland ahead of crunch Springbok game
VERN COTTER HAS thrown Blair Cowan straight into Rugby World Cup action for Scotland as they prepare to face South Africa at St James’ Park.
Cowan was added to Cotter’s 31-man squad on Tuesday following Grant Gilchrist’s withdrawal with a groin injury, and he will make his World Cup bow in Saturday’s Pool B clash.
The back-row forward is one of three players making their first appearance in this year’s competition, part of 10 changes made by Cotter from the XV that beat the United States.
Gordon Reid and Richie Vernon join Cowan in making their bow in the tournament, while Edinburgh scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne could join them if brought on from the bench.
However Scotland will be without the services of exciting outhalf Finn Russell, who is sidelined with injury.
Greig Laidlaw captains the side from number nine, while the Gray brothers – Jonny and Richie – will start in the second row together for the seventh time.
Scotland top the group heading into the match with the Springboks after bonus-point wins over Japan and USA, but Cotter knows they face a big challenge to maintain that form.
“This is a massive test for our team,” he said. “Playing South Africa is one of the biggest challenges you can face as a rugby player.
“We’ll need to be very good on the day.”
Scotland XV
15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Richie Vernon
12 Matt Scott
11 Tim Visser
10 Duncan Weir
9 Greig Laidlaw
1 Gordon Reid
2 Fraser Brown
3 Willem Nel
4 Richie Gray
5 Jonny Gray
6 Josh Strauss
7 Blair Cowan
8 David Denton
Replacements
16 Ross Ford
17 Alasdair Dickinson
18 Jon Welsh
19 Tim Swinson
20 Ryan Wilson
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Peter Horne
23 Sean Lamont
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Changes Rugby Union Rugby World Cup 2015 rwc 15 Scotland South Africa World Cup