Monday 21 September 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015: Stuart Hogg fit for Scotland opener



Stuart Hogg returns to the starting line-up for Scotland


Stuart Hogg will return from injury for Scotland's World Cup opener against Japan in Gloucester on Wednesday.
The full-back, 23, has recovered from an ankle problem sustained in the home warm-up win over Italy last month.
Scrum-half Greig Laidlaw captains the side, Grant Gilchrist partners Jonny Gray in the second row and winger Sean Lamont will win his 98th cap.
Flanker Josh Strauss is among the replacements, having recently become eligible under residency rules.

Japan caused a major upset when they beat South Africa 34-32 on Saturday, while Samoa top Pool B after their 25-16 win over the United States.

 
Scotland have won all four of their previous encounters with Japan, including World Cup pool matches in 1991 and 2003.
"We've prepared well for what will be a very tough Test against a powerful and fit Japanese team, who like to play a high-tempo game," said head coach Vern Cotter.
"They [Japan] will have taken a lot of confidence from their opening win over South Africa. However, that doesn't change our approach to this game or the pool.
"The priority for us to ensure that we get our jobs right with accuracy, and impose ourselves on the game."

Josh Strauss
Strauss is in line to make his Scotland debut from the bench
David Denton keeps Strauss out of the starting line-up at number eight, with Ryan Wilson and John Hardie the other loose forwards.
On the bench, Ryan Grant has recovered from an ankle problem to join Fraser Brown and Jon Welsh as the replacements for an all-Edinburgh front row of Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and Willem Nel.
Scotland: Hogg; Seymour, Bennett, Scott, Lamont; Russell, Laidlaw; Dickinson, Ford, Nel, Gilchrist, J. Gray, Wilson, Hardie, Denton. Replacements: Brown, Grant, Welsh, R. Gray, Strauss, Pyrgos, Horne, Maitland.

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