Gilchrist Closes On Scotland Cap

Edinburgh Rugby lock Grant Gilchrist was today named in the Scotland bench for the first time by Andy Robinson who made nine personnel changes to the squad for Saturday’s EMC Test against Tonga in Aberdeen. A product of Alloa, Stirling County and Edinburgh Rugby’s elite development player programme, Gilchrist is one of four changes on the bench as Scotland seek to protect their 100% winning record at their northern citadel in front of an expected capacity crowd.The changes in the team see Max Evans return at outside-centre to the stadium at which he won his first cap four years ago. He replaces Nick De Luca who is moved to the bench. Henry Pyrgos, who scored Scotland’s try against South Africa last weekend, is handed the starting jersey at scrum-half for the first time instead of Mike Blair, while Scott Lawson will begin his first international since August 2011 at hooker rather than Ross Ford.At lock, Alastair Kellock gets the nod over Jim Hamilton to win his 47th cap, while in the back-row Alasdair Strokosch is restored from the calf injury that prevented his involvement against the Springboks, with John Barclay taking the back-row replacement berth at the expense of Stuart McInally.Scotland team to play Tonga in the EMC Test Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday 24 November (kick-off 3pm) 15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps 14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 70 caps 13 Max Evans (Castres) 31 caps 12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 6 caps 11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) 4 caps 10 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 12 caps 9 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps 1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps 2 Scott Lawson (London Irish) 35 caps 3 Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors) 48 caps 4 Richie Gray (Sale Sharks) 26 caps 5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 46 caps 6 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan) 29 caps 7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) CAPTAIN 51 caps 8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 capsSubstitutes 16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 38 caps 17 Kyle Traynor (Bristol Rugby) 3 caps 18 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 16 caps 19 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) uncapped 20 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 40 caps 21 Rory Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) 30 caps 22 Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby) uncapped 23 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 37 caps_ Referee : Mathieu Raynal (France).Uncapped 20-year-old Bath Rugby stand-off Tom Heathcote has been named on the bench while, at the other end of the experience scale, substitute scrum-half Rory Lawson is back on Scotland duty for the first time since the 2011 Rugby World Cup match against Argentina. Robinson said: We will not be among the top eight seeds for the 2015 Rugby World Cup draw, so this weekend Im looking at giving a number of players an opportunity to put their hand up for selection for next year. ‘this weekend we have to put together an 80 minutes performance and build on the positive parts of our games that we showed in the last 30 minutes against South Africa and the second half against New Zealand. International rugby is about pressure and it’s important that when you are under pressure that you are able to absorb it as opposed to conceding points as cheaply as we have done._Robinson noted that Tonga have selected a strong side and praised the support from Scotland fans this month. It’s great we are here in Aberdeen and that there’s likely to be a sell-out crowd. _Thanks to all supporters for their backing. _The atmosphere at Murrayfield over the last fortnight has been the best that Ive seen. You can still buy tickets online at www.scottishrugby.org; via the 24-hour credit card hotline 0844 335 3933 or in person from the Scottish Rugby ticket centre at Murrayfield Stadium which is open 9am-5pm, Mondays to Fridays or from the Aberdeen FC ticket office which is open at the same times.The ticket office is at the side of the Richard Donald Stand behind the club shop. Adults: _15, _25 and _40Under-18s and students: _7.50, _12.50 and _20