VERN Cotter has made ten changes to the Scotland team for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup match against the United States in Leeds, but admitted he may have to make further alterations before kick-off because some players are still suffering from minor injuries.
The head coach has promoted the entire bench from the squad that beat Japan in midweek, with Henry Pyrgos coming in to captain the team for the second time. Sean Maitland starts on the right wing, Peter Horne is at inside centre and Tim Visser is on the left wing in the other alterations to the back division.
Up front, Josh Strauss makes his first start for Scotland, having made his debut off the bench in the 45-10 Pool B victory over the Japanese in Gloucester. There is a new front row, Richie Gray replaces his brother Jonny at lock, and Alasdair Strokosch is at blindside. Visser, Strokosch and replacements Tim Swinson and Duncan Weir are the four who are new to the squad. Tommy Seymour, David Denton and Sean Lamont drop out along with Jonny Gray.
“There are a few knocks and bruises – and I’m sure there may be one or two more surprises before kick-off,” Cotter said. “We may need to change the team one hour before the game, but we’ve announced the group which will take the field and play their part in the game. There are still bumps and bruises and guys who haven’t trained 100 per cent yet, so we’ll try our best, and if we have to change the team then we will change the team.”
Pyrgos, who also led the side in last month’s warm-up game against Ireland, will urge his team-mates to impose themselves on the Americans from the kick-off.
“We got exactly what we wanted against Japan, but we know the USA will come really hard at us,” Pyrgos said. “We need to get off to a fast start on Sunday.”
The US have made just one change from the team that began their 25-16 defeat by Samoa last Sunday, with Phil Tiel coming in at hooker for Zach Fenoglio. Captain Chris Wyles, who played on the wing in that match, moves to full-back, swapping places with Blaine Scully.
Scotland (v USA at Elland Road, Sunday 2.30pm): S Hogg; S Maitland, M Bennett, P Horne, T Visser; F Russell, H Pyrgos; R Grant, F Brown, J Welsh, R Gray, G Gilchrist, A Strokosch, J Hardie, J Strauss. Substitutes: R Ford, A Dickinson, W Nel, T Swinson, R Wilson, G Laidlaw, D Weir, M Scott.
USA: C Wyles; T Ngwenya, S Kelly, T Palamo, B Scully; A MacGinty, M Petri; E Fry, P Thiel, T Lamositele, H Smith, G Peterson, A McFarland, A Durutalo, S Manoa. Substitutes: Z Fenoglio, O Kilifi, C Baumann, C Dolan, J Quill, D Barrett, S Suniula, F Niua.
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