Robinson: three changes
Scotland coach Andy Robinson reckons making changes to the side which shocked Australia highlights the competition for places that exists in his squad.
Robinson drafted in three players to his starting XV for Saturday's final autumn international against Argentina, handing a debut to Edinburgh flanker Alan MacDonald, as well as recalling Ben Cairns and Thom Evans.
MacDonald, 24, will start in place of John Barclay, who is rested following his fine defensive efforts against Fiji and the Wallabies.
MacDonald, Cairns and Evans have all been rewarded for their performances for the A team in Friday night's win over Tonga.
Robinson, looking to become the first Scotland boss to lead the side to a hat-trick of autumn international wins since 2002, said: "There is real competition for places and it would have been very easy for me to put another XV out.
"But I thought it was right to just make a couple of subtle changes and I think that really helped the team moving forward."
It was telling Robinson singled out Glasgow flanker Barclay as missing out simply due to his recent exertions.
The head coach said: "I saw this as an opportunity to give Alan MacDonald a start. One, because he's been playing well for the A team, but also because of how John has performed - he has done well - and the punishment that he has taken."
Robinson revealed Cairns would have been in contention to start the opening November Test against Fiji had he not been struggling with a knee injury.
The Edinburgh star will earn his seventh cap at outside centre, with Alex Grove switching to the inside berth.
"In the back line, I just wanted to freshen it up a little bit with a bit of pace," Robinson said.
"Thom Evans brings that; he's the quickest player in the team.
"Ben Cairns has been playing well at 13, potentially would have started if he'd have been fit.
"He's got his fitness back, played in the A team game and did well.
"Alex has been the stand-out performer in the back line and he's really held the back line together with his defence, so we're looking at him playing at 12."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Guinness Premiership | |
| Saturday 13th February | |
| Guinness Premiership | |
| 15:00 | Northampton vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Gloucester vs Harlequins |
| 15:00 | Saracens vs Worcester |
| Sunday 14th February | |
| 15:00 | Leeds Carnegie vs Leicester |
| 16:30 | Wasps vs Sale |
| 16:30 | London Irish vs Bath |
| Friday 19th February | |
| 19:45 | Sale vs Leeds Carnegie |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| 14:15 | Bath vs Worcester |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Gloucester |
| 15:00 | Harlequins vs Northampton |
| Sunday 21st February | |
| 15:00 | Wasps vs Saracens |
| Friday 26th February | |
| 20:00 | Worcester vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| 14:00 | Northampton vs Leicester |
| 15:00 | Gloucester vs Sale |
| Sunday 28th February | |
| 15:00 | London Irish vs Harlequins |
| 15:00 | Saracens vs Bath |
| 15:00 | Leeds Carnegie vs Wasps |
| Saturday 6th March | |
| 15:00 | Harlequins vs Worcester |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs London Irish |
| Sunday 7th March | |
| 15:00 | Wasps vs Gloucester |
| 15:00 | Leeds Carnegie vs Saracens |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Bath |
| Saturday 27th March | |
| 14:15 | Bath vs Harlequins |
| 15:00 | Gloucester vs Leeds Carnegie |
| 15:00 | Worcester vs Leicester |
| Result |
|---|
| Guinness Premiership |
| Saturday 9th January |
| Guinness Premiership |
| Leicester 34 - 8 Wasps |
| Sunday 3rd January |
| Wasps 6 - 12 Newcastle |
| Saturday 2nd January |
| Northampton 24 - 22 London Irish |
| Gloucester 13 - 13 Worcester |
| Leeds Carnegie 15 - 20 Bath |
| Saracens 15 - 22 Leicester |
| Friday 1st January |
| Sale 21 - 16 Harlequins |
| Sunday 27th December |
| Harlequins 20 - 21 Wasps |
| London Irish 23 - 19 Saracens |
| Newcastle 15 - 16 Leeds Carnegie |
| Bath 24 - 8 Gloucester |
| Leicester 32 - 6 Sale |
| Saturday 26th December |
| Worcester 6 - 26 Northampton |
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