Burgh Dominate Scotland Selection

Edinburgh Rugby have contribute nine of the 22-man Scotland squad that will take on England in the nation’s opening RBS 6 Nations_ at Murrayfield on Saturday – the highest contribution of any club.Winger Lee Jones has been named as the one new cap while back-row forwards David Denton and Ross Rennie celebrate selection for their first start in the competition.The trio feature in the squad alongside fellow Edinburgh Rugby stalwarts Greig Laidlaw, Mike Blair, Nick De Luca, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Geoff Cross.Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has made eight changes in personnel from the starting XV in Scotland’s last match the narrow loss to England in the Rugby World Cup in Auckland back in October (Chris Paterson has retired and Joe Ansbro and Ruaridh Jackson are recovering from injury) but the five other changes are down to selection.Robinson said today: Ive been pleased with the consistency Lee Jones has shown and he fully deserves to win his first cap.Form has played a part in selection._ Edinburgh’s qualification for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and Glasgow’s performances in the RaboDirect PRO12 mean that competition for places has intensified, particularly in the back-row.But, as ever, we select to win an international rugby match._ It is not by accident that these games are referred to as Test matches because that is what they are, the ultimate in physical and mental challenge and that is certainly always on the menu when England are our opponents.We have experienced players in our team and they must make that knowledge count by helping the team to a successful start on Saturday.Robinson and the Scotland team are calling on fans at the 67,144 capacity Murrayfield and throughout the country on Saturday to wear blue and show their support for the side.The game kicks-off at 5pm on Saturday, with the Murrayfield car park open from 1pm and the turnstiles open from 2.15pm. Tickets for the car park are selling fast and can be bought online at www.scottishrugby.org. There will be a full programme of pre-match entertainment plus spectators will also be able to watch the France v Italy match on the stadium’s big screens.Due to tram works taking place in the west end of Edinburgh’s city centre, Shandwick Place and Haymarket regular routes for many spectators walking to the stadium are expected to be busier than normal therefore supporters are urged to allow extra time for their journey and/or arrive earlier at the stadium.Scotland team (sponsor RBS) to play England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Saturday 4 February, kick-off 5pm)15 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps, 6 tries, 30 points14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) new cap13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 60 caps, 8 tries, 40 points11 Max Evans (Castres) 24 caps, 3 tries, 15 points10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 66 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions, 53 penalties, 17 drop-goals, 260 points9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 55 caps, 3 tries, 15 points1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 60 caps2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 53 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN3 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 41 caps, 2 tries, 10 points4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 16 caps5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 capSubstitutes16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points17 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 75 caps, 7 tries, 35 points21 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps22 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 3 tries, 15 pointsReferee: George Clancy (Ireland)._ Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France) and Leighton Hodges (Wales)._ TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)