B&R Radio: Cross In For Scotland

Geoff Cross, the 30-year-old Edinburgh Rugby prop, returns to the Scotland starting line-up for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship meeting with Ireland at Murrayfield.Cross, who scored a try against New Zealand in his last start for Scotland, is the only change from the team that began the 34-10 victory over Italy earlier this month. Cross replaces Euan Murray, the Worcester tight-head, who is unavailable for this weekend as a result of his Christian faith.Meanwhile on the bench, Dougie Hall has recovered from the knee injury he sustained against England and is restored as replacement hooker.His Glasgow Warriors team-mate, prop Jon Welsh, also wins a place on the bench, his first involvement in a matchday 23 since he returned home early from last summer’s tour to the South Pacific to undergo shoulder surgery.Alastair Kellock will become the 34th Scot to reach the landmark of 50 caps for his country if he is introduced to the action from the bench.Edinburgh Rugby prop Geoff CrossScotland team v Ireland 15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps 14 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps 13 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 73 caps 12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps 11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) 7 caps 10 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 17 caps 9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) vice-captain, 15 caps 1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) vice-captain, 7 caps 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 65 caps 3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 18 caps 4 Richie Gray (Sale Sharks) 29 caps 5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 43 caps 6 Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps 7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) captain, 54 caps 8 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 18 caps Substitutes 16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), 40 caps 17 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors), 1 cap 18 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 16 caps 19 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 49 caps 20 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps 21 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps 22 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps 23 Max Evans (Castres) 34 capsScotland interim head coach Scott Johnson said: We have to improve on our last game and that’s been our theme at training all week.I make no apology for saying again that we have to step up our work in the contact area._ Yes, weve some talented athletes in the squad , but we have to give them the opportunities.It’s good to see players challenging for selection and there are a number consistently putting their hands up, which is exactly what we want to see.But weve kept changes to a minimum and are saying to the players: Youve won one game. Now go out show us you can win another.Just over 1800 tickets remain for Sunday’s match and can be bought via the 24 hour credit card hotline 0844 335 3933; via our website www.scottishrugby.org ; or in person from the Ticket Centre at Murrayfield Stadium which is open_ until 5pm tonight (Wednesday), then 9am-8pm tomorrow and Friday and from 10am-4pm on Saturday.Unavailable through injury: Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Chris Cusiter and Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist and Ross Rennie (both Edinburgh Rugby).Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)._ Assistant referees: Jerome Garces (France) and Greg Garner (England)._ TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)