Six Edinburgh Players In Scotland Squad

Mike Blair will retain the captain’s armband for Scotland’s final RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Italy in Rome on Saturday, 15 March, kick off 1pm while Edinburgh boasts a further famous five in the 22-man squad.Despite the withdrawal of hooker Ross Ford through an ankle injury, there is still a noticeable Edinburgh flavour to the side with Hugo Southwell at full-back, Simon Webster at outside centre, Allan Jacobsen at prop and Allister Hogg at openside.And scrum half Blair leads the team after captaining Scotland to an epic Calcutta Cup triumph at Murrayfield last weekend with Craig Smith being utilised as an impact substitute from a bench that contains five forwards.Forwards coach George Graham highlighted Smith’s skill-set and believes the Stewart’s Melville front rower will have an important part to play.Graham said: He is a big abrasive ball carrier who scrummages well.Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday 15 March at Stadio Flaminio, Rome, kick-off 2pm local time15 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh)14 Simon Danielli (Ulster)13 Simon Webster (Edinburgh)12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors)11 Nikki Walker (Ospreys)10 Chris Paterson (Gloucester)9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) CAPTAIN1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh)2 Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors)3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints)4 Nathan Hines (Perpignan)5 Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets)6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester)8 Simon Taylor (Stade Francais)7 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh)Substitutes16 Scott Lawson (Sale Sharks)17 Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester)18 Craig Smith (Edinburgh)19 Jason White (Sale Sharks)20 Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors)21 Rory Lawson (Gloucester)22 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors)