Scrivener Backs Scotland A To Make Most Of Gala Night

Scotland A head coach Nick Scrivener has backed his players to exploit their experience of top level rugby and put in a winning performance against USA Eagles at Netherdale on Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm, admission FREE). The match-day 22 today named by Scrivener and his assistant Stevie Scott boats more than 60 full Scotland caps, close to 100 A team appearances, and nearly 600 outings in the Magners League. Scotland A head coach Nick Scrivener has backed his players to exploit their experience of top level rugby and put in a winning performance against USA Eagles at Netherdale on Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm, admission FREE). The match-day 22 today named by Scrivener and his assistant Stevie Scott boats more than 60 full Scotland caps, close to 100 A team appearances, and nearly 600 outings in the Magners League. The side will be captained by Al Kellock, the Glasgow Warriors lock who skippered Scotland to a historic series win in Argentina back in June before undergoing knee surgery. Scrivener wants his men to take full advantage of their collective know-how and prove they have what it takes to beat Test opposition in the first of three Scotland A fixtures to be staged in Gala this season. He said: “I’m really excited about the team we’ve put together. For what is a pretty young group, there’s a lot of experience in there, and the challenge now is to make it count. “We’ve said right from the beginning that the whole focus and object of the exercise is doing whatever it takes to win the game, and I’m confident the guys we’ve selected have the ability and the mentality to make sure we do just that. “It’s fantastic to be able to call on a leader of the calibre of Al Kellock, and I know he’ll set a great example for the younger guys to follow with the sense of purpose he’ll bring to the game.” Six members of the full Scotland squad for the EMC Autumn Tests have been given the opportunity to push their case in the Borders. Scott Lawson, who came off the bench against New Zealand four days ago, will start in the front row alongside Geoff Cross, while Joe Ansbro, Jim Thompson, Ben Cairns and Alex Grove all get an outing behind the scrum. Elsewhere, back-row duo Rob Harley (Glasgow) and Stuart McInally (Edinburgh) are rewarded for their fine form with the Scotland under-20 side last season and their respective pro-teams this term. Also making the step up from the under-20s are back-rower David Denton, scrum-half Henry Pyrgos and stand-off Duncan Weir. Lee Jones, the Edinburgh wing who excelled with the Scotland 7s team at the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi, will make his first A team appearance. Scrivener confirmed: “All these guys have really put their hands up with the way they’ve played at age-grade level and how they’ve managed the step- up to the Magners League. “They know there’s a real opportunity for them on Friday to take another step forward, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them contribute.” Eight players who were involved in the A team’s last outing, the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest five months ago, are in the 22 for the USA game. Thompson, Cairns, Blair and Traynor all have another chance to impress, as do Fraser McKenzie, Mark McMillan, Jack Cuthbert and Edinburgh captain Roddy Grant. There could be a first Scotland representative appearance for Tom Ryder, the Saracens back-five forward who spent the first part of this season on loan at Glasgow. Steven Lawrie, the former Edinburgh hooker who has played for the national under-19, under-21 and 7s teams, has been selected on the back of encouraging displays with English Championship side Doncaster Knights. Scrivener confirmed: “The USA match is a great opportunity for any number of players to show they can come together as a group in a pretty short space of time and win a big game for their country. “There’s been a very clear link between the As and the senior side in the last couple of years, so there’s no shortage of incentives for the boys to deliver. “We can’t wait to head down to the Borders and get cracking. We’ve watched the USA’s [recent] games against Saracens and Portugal, and there’s no doubt they’ll be tough opposition. “It should be a really good spectacle for supporters to come out and watch, and with admission being free, hopefully we’ll get a really good crowd in like last November against Tonga. The encouragement the fans gave that night meant a lot to the players, and it would be great to hear the same again on Friday night.” SCOTLAND A TEAM FOR MATCH AGAINST USA EAGLES AT NETHERDALE ON FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2010 (kick-off 7.30pm, admission FREE) 15 Jim Thompson (Edinburgh)14 Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints)13 Ben Cairns (Edinburgh)12 Alex Grove (Edinburgh)11 Lee Jones (Edinburgh)10 David Blair (Edinburgh)9 Mark McMillan (Bath) 1 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors)2 Scott Lawson (Gloucester)3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh)4 Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh)5 Al Kellock (Glasgow Warriors, CAPTAIN)6 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors)7 Roddy Grant (Edinburgh)8 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh) SUBSTITUTES 16 Steven Lawrie (Doncaster Knights)17 Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh)18 Tom Ryder (Saracens)19 David Denton (Edinburgh)20 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors)21 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors)22 Jack Cuthbert (Bath) The Scotland A captain’s run on Thursday is open to the public. The session is due to start at 4pm at Netherdale. Supporters who intend to come to the captain’s run are advised to consult www.scottishrugby.org on the day for news on any change in venue brought about by poor weather conditions.