Scott Wight had made three changes to his Scotland Club XV ahead of their Dalriada Cup return leg clash against Ireland in Dublin on Friday night, when they will attempt to turn around a 22-point deficit from the first leg.
One change is enforced, wih Edinburgh Accies flanker Jamie Sole dropping out due to a head knock picked up during last Friday’s defeat at Netherdale, and is replaced in the starting line-up by Aberdeen Grammar’s Nat Cole, with Rhys Davies of Currie Chieftains coming onto the bench.
Meanwhile, experienced Glasgow Hawks tight-head Gary Strain is promoted to the No 3 jersey with Calvin Henderson of Marr dropping to the bench; and behind the scrum, Hawick teenager Andrew Mitchell comes in at outside centre, with Conor Bickerstaff switching to inside-centre and Colin Sturgeon now a replacement.
“The squad played well last week, as result we’ve made very few changes to the starting line-up,” said Wight. “It’s a strong and determined squad that we’ve backed to travel to Ireland for the second leg of the Dalriada Cup.
“Although we had some good opportunities and periods of momentum last Friday, we’ll look to retain the ball for longer periods and be more clinical with our possession to execute the game plan we want to play”
Scotland Club XV team to face Ireland Club XV on Friday at Energia Park, Donnybrook, Dublin (kick-off 5:45pm): Grant Mollison (GHA); Scott Bickerstaff (Marr), Andrew Mitchell (Hawick), Conor Bickerstaff (Marr), Callum Young (Jed-Forest); Aaron McColm (Selkirk), Gregor Christie (Currie); Shawn Muir (Hawick), Fergus Scott – CAPTAIN (Currie Chieftains), Gary Strain (Glasgow Hawks), Mike Vernel (Currie Chieftains), Gregor Law (Jed-Forest), Nathaniel Coe (Aberdeen Grammar), Wallace Nelson (Currie Chieftains), Ewan MacDougall (Selkirk)
Substitutes: Matt Carryer (Hawick), William Farquhar (Marr), Calvin Henderson (Marr), Robin Cessford (Aberdeen Grammar), Rhys Davies (Currie), Patrick Boyer (Glasgow Hawks), Colin Sturgeon (Marr), Steven Hamilton (Currie Chieftains).
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