International rugby match preview: Scotland v Samoa
Scotland are without key players as they start their quadrangular tournament against Samoa in South Africa on Saturday.
Last Updated: 08/06/13 1:14pm
Richie Gray, Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland are all touring with the British and Irish Lions in Australia, while prop Ryan Grant was called up to join them on Friday following the injury to Cian Healy.
Grant was originally selected to face Samoa and his place in the front row will be taken by Alasdair Dickinson. Moray Low comes in on the bench.
Full-back Greig Tonks, centre Alex Dunbar and hooker Pat MacArthur will all make their international bow in Durban, while Tom Heathcote and Grant Gilchrist start for only the second time.
Further debuts could be made from the bench with Steve Lawrie, Peter Horne and Duncan Taylor all featuring in the 23-man squad.
Captain Kelly Brown and Greig Laidlaw are included as they look to make a statement having missed out on Lions selection last month.
Debutants
Meanwhile Samoa hand debuts to two Super Rugby stars from the Hurricanes squad as they look to overturn a Scotland side three places below them in the world rankings.
Winger Alapati Leiua and flanker Jack Lam joined the squad for the first time earlier in the week and are slotted straight into Stephen Betham's starting XV.
Leicester Tigers loosehead prop Logovii Mulipola gets the nod and will be joined in the pack by Newcastle Falcons loose forward Taiasina Tuifua as Samoa aim to avenge a run of four defeats against Scotland.
Fly-half Tusiata Pisi will partner Jeremy Sua in the midfield while Census Johnston retains his place in the Samoan front row.
Scotland: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Kelly Brown (capt), 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Stevie Lawrie, 17 Moray Low, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Duncan Taylor.
Samoa: 15 James Sooialo, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Paul Williams (capt), 12 Jonny Leota, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusiata Pisi, 9 Jeremy Sua, 8 Taiasina Tuifua, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Ofisa Treviranus, 5 Daniel Leo, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Wayne Ole Avei, 1 Logovii Mulipola.
Replacements: 16 Maatulimanu Leiataua, 17 Sakaria Taulafo, 18 James Johnston, 19 Faatiga Lemalu, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Brando Vaaulu, 22 Seilala Mapusua, 23 Alafoti Faosiliva.
What they said...
Scotland captain Kelly Brown
"Samoa are a side that likes the physical stuff but it's up to us to impose ourselves on them. If we can put them under a bit of pressure that's what we're looking to do."