Scots Make Ten Changes For Clash With Ireland.

In winning his sixth cap, number 8 Ross Beattie makes his Murrayfield debut today, in a Scotland side that shows ten changes from the one beaten 23-9 by Wales last weekend. The only players retaining their places are Glenn Metcalfe, Andy Craig, Gordon Bulloch, Stuart Grimes and Andy Mower while Gavin Kerr switches from loose head to tight head prop.

Beattie (25), who moved from Bristol to Gwent Dragons during the summer had been sidelined from international involvement for much of the year now gets his opportunity because of injury to those ahead of him and he fully intends to make the most of his chances.
“I didn’t think I was that far down the line and if there were any injuries I might get a chance but I didn’t realise anyone was injured until the weekend and has pretty much resigned myself to missing out on the World Cup”.

” Then I got the call up for the game against Ireland and that gives me a chance I didn’t think I was going to get, so I’ve got to take it.”

“I haven’t really had time to think about my feelings since being told I was in the team – nervous, excited, it’s just indescribable.”

After watching Scotland demolish Italy two weeks ago, Beattie thought that his chances of getting into the RWC squad had finally disappeared but then those same team-mates put in that shocker against Wales and the door burst open again for Beattie who will play on the blind side flank.

Scotland.
G Metcalfe (Glasgow), C Paterson (Edinburgh), A Craig (Orrell), A Henderson (Glasgow), K Logan (Wasps), G Ross (Leeds), M Blair (Edinburgh), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), A Bulloch (Glasgow) capt, G Kerr (Leeds), S Grimes (Newcastle), N Hines (Edinburgh), R Beattie (Gwent), S Taylor (Edinburgh), A Mower (Newcastle).
Replacements: R Russell (Saracens), G McIlwham (unattached), J Petrie (Glasgow), I Fullarton (Sale), G Beveridge (Glasgow), J McLaren (Aviron Bayonnais), S Webster (Edinburgh Rugby).

Ireland
G Murphy 9Leicester Tigers); A Horgan (Munster), B O’Driscoll (Leinster), K Maggs (Bath), D Hickie (Leinster); R O’Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), K Wood capt (unattached), R Corrigan (Leinster), M O’Kelly (Leinster), P O’Connell (Munster), E Miller (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster), V Costello (Leinster).
Replacements:S Byrne (Leinster), S Best (Ulster), S Easterby (Llanelli), K Dawson (Lon Irish), G Easterby (Rotherham), D Humphreys (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster).