SCOTLAND INTERIM BOSS Scott Johnson been able to return fit-again Stuart Hogg to the fullback jersey for this Sunday’s Six Nations clash against Ireland.
The youngest member of last summer’s Lions tour missed the November internationals through injury, but now forms the centerpiece of a dangerous looking back three which also features Sean Maitland and Sean Lamont.
Johnson has resisted the urge to start lock Richie Gray, preferring to reunite Glasgow’s Tim Swinson and Jim Hamilton who formed the second row unit against South Africa last summer while Gray was with the Lions in Australia.
“The forwards especially were a hard pick,” Johnson told ScottishRugby.org, ”but we’re happy. We believe we’ve got a good combination to go in against formidable opposition.”
Duncan Weir has been given the nod at out-half with cover coming from his half-back partner Laidlaw and centre Matt Scott on the bench.
Captain Kelly Brown will win his 61st cap for his country, but it will be a Six Nations debut for Swinson, Ryan Wilson and centre pairing Alex Dunbar and Duncan Taylor.
Scotland (v Ireland): S Hogg, S Maitland, A Dunbar, D Taylor, S Lamont; D Weir, G Laidlaw: R Grant, R Ford, M Low, T Swinson, J Hamilton; R Wilson, K Brown (Capt.) D Denton.Replacements: P Mac Arthus, A Dickinson, G Cross, R Gray, J Beattie, C Cusiter, M Scott, M Evans.
