Six Nations

Head coach Andy Robinson has named an unchanged starting side as Scotland make a bid to avoid winning the wooden spoon in their final Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.

Scotland were deprived of what could have been a morale-boosting victory against England last week at Murrayfield where both teams had to settle for a 15-15 draw.

But Robinson is determined his charges should build on that result and gain a tangible reward from their efforts in the competition.

"I have spoken about the need for us to be consistent and put together back-to-back performances," said Robinson.
"We did some good things against England last weekend but we have to look for improvements against a well-balanced Ireland team who will be looking to bow out on a high from the final match at Croke Park."

The selection means that Kelly Brown, who had to retire in the second-half of the Calcutta Cup clash with a head knock, is satisfying the return to play medical protocols and is fit to take his place in the back-row.

On the bench Scotland show three changes. Scrumhalf Mike Blair and prop Alasdair Dickinson have both recovered from concussion which ruled them out of the England game and they are preferred to Rory Lawson and Geoff Cross respectively.

Elsewhere on the bench lock Nathan Hines has been ruled out through a knee injury, giving Glasgow Warriors' 20-year-old lock Richie Gray a chance to return to the squad.

Team:

Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell; 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Max Evans; 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter (captain); 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown; 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Jim Hamilton; 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Richie Gray, 19 Alan MacDonald, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Phil Godman, 22 Simon Danielli