Scotland v South Africa: Teams
Scotland coach Frank Hadden has made four changes for Saturday's warm-up match against South Africa.
Last Updated: 23/08/07 2:26pm
Scotland coach Frank Hadden has made four changes for Saturday's World Cup warm-up match against South Africa at Murrayfield.
Hadden has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to his line-up after the 31-21 victory over Ireland on August 11.
He has brought in prop Gavin Kerr, back-row forwards Kelly Brown and Dave Callam and winger Nikki Walker, with Allon Jacobsen, Allister Hogg, Simon Taylor and Sean Lamont the men to make way.
Chris Paterson, who impressed against the Irish, continues at stand-off, with Hadden keen to see how he copes against the second favourites for the World Cup.
There had been suggestions Hadden would promote more of the World Cup squad who played no part or little part in the Ireland clash.
However he has kept faith with the bulk of the players who make up his first-choice XV, ahead of the September 9 clash with Portugal in Saint-Etienne which marks the start of Scotland's World Cup campaign.
"With our first World Cup game 19 days away, Saturday is a massive challenge for us," Hadden said.
"As ever the selection is about identifying a team that can win.
"In this case it's also about striking a balance between giving as many players in the squad game time and looking for continuity after our victory earlier this month against Ireland."
Hadden confirmed Taylor was being given the weekend off to recover from a facial injury, while Scott Lawson and Chris Cusiter were ruled out by ankle injuries.
Hadden said: "Simon Taylor could have played this weekend but we've decided in light of the very deep gash to his face that he sustained against Ireland that it will do him no harm to rest."
South Africa are still without their captain John Smit, who has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Australia on June 16.
Smit travelled with the team on their two-match trip to Ireland and Scotland, but has been omitted from the 22 named by coach Jake White.
The Springboks will be led on the field by lock Victor Matfield, while only wing JP Pietersen, number eight Danie Rossouw and fly-half Butch James keep their places from the team which beat Connacht 18-3 on Tuesday.
Frans Steyn returns from a back injury to make his first appearance since June 23 at inside centre, replacing regulars Jean de Villiers (hip) and Wynand Olivier (hamstring) who are also injured.
Scotland team: R Lamont (Sale Sharks); N Walker (Ospreys), R Dewey (Ulster), A Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), S Webster (Edinburgh); C Paterson (Gloucester), M Blair (Edinburgh); G Kerr (unattached), R Ford (Glasgow Warriors), E Murray (Northampton), N Hines (Perpignan), J Hamilton (Leicester), J White (Sale Sharks, captain), D Callam (Edinburgh), K Brown (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: F Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), S Murray (Montauban), A Hogg (Edinburgh), R Lawson (Gloucester), D Parks (Glasgow Warriors), H Southwell (Edinburgh).
South Africa team: - P Montgomery, JP Pietersen, J Fourie, F Steyn, B Habana, B James, F du Preez, D Rossouw, J Smith, S Burger, V Matfield (captain), B Botha, CJ van der Linde, G Botha, O du Randt.
Replacements: B du Plessis, BJ Botha, A van den Berg, W van Heerden, R Pienaar, A Pretorius, A Willemse.