Worcester Warriors centre Alex Grove will start for Scotland A as they look to complete a clean sweep of wins for the season when they square up to Italy A at Netherdale on Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm).
The Scots have emerged victorious from both previous clashes at the Gala ground this term, beating USA Eagles 25-0 back in November, and seeing off Ireland Wolfhounds 32-13 in fine fashion last weekend.
As well as giving them the opportunity to maintain their 100% record, Friday’s match offers Nick Scrivener’s side the chance to gain revenge for the 13-3 defeat they suffered against the same opposition in Biella last February.
The starting line-up for this week’s game shows seven changes from that which ran out to face the Irish. Jim Thompson, who impressed at full-back in that match, is suffering from an ankle injury and has been replaced by Jack Cuthbert, one of seven players from Scotland’s RBS 6 Nations squad who will start on Friday.
Two other members of this group, Worcester’s Grove and Simon Danielli, come in at outside centre and left wing respectively, taking the places of Ben Cairns and Hefin O’Hare who are both among the replacements.
In the forwards, Scott Lawson takes the hooker berth, while Saracens back-five forward Tom Ryder, who made a first Scotland A appearance against the USA, will line up in the second row with Scott MacLeod remaining with the senior squad.
Stuart McInally and Ryan Grant also come into the pack, in place of Ryan Wilson and Jon Welsh respectively. Both Wilson and Welsh are suffering from shoulder injuries. Grant, their fellow Glasgow Warrior, has made one Scotland A appearance to date, against Italy A in 2007.
Scrivener said: “I was really pleased with how the players stepped up to the plate in the second half last week after a difficult start, and the key now is to bring all the same elements to this Friday’s performance.
“We’ll need to be just as sharp and just as intense, because although Italy A lost to England Saxons last weekend, they showed the sort of qualities up front that you’d expect from an Italian side and if we let them impose their game, life will become quite difficult for us.
“We’re sending out another strong team this weekend, and I’m looking forward to seeing them all deliver, because some of the players who’ve dropped out of the starting line-up from last weekend are very unlucky to find themselves in that position.
“As ever with A team rugby, it’s about everyone coming together in a short space of time, following a common purpose, and doing whatever it takes to win the game.
“It would certainly be very satisfying to come away with [a record of] three from three for the season, but to put ourselves in a position to achieve that, it’s going to take another massive group effort from everyone.”
SCOTLAND A:
15 Jack Cuthbert (Bath)
14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh)
13 Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors)
12 John Houston (Edinburgh)
11 Simon Danielli (Ulster)
10 David Blair (Edinburgh)
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh, c)
1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Scott Lawson (Gloucester)
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh)
4 Tom Ryder (Saracens)
5 Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh)
6 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh)
8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh)
SUBSTITUTES
16 Stevie Lawrie (Doncaster Knights)
17 Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh)
18 Aly Muldowney (Glasgow Warriors)
19 Roddy Grant (Edinburgh)
20 Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors)
21 Ben Cairns (Edinburgh)
22 Hefin O’Hare (Glasgow Warriors)