Danielli gets recalled
Posted Tue, 11 Mar 2008
Simon Danielli is set to make his first start for Scotland in three years after being named in the side to play Italy in Saturday's Six Nations wooden-spoon decider in Rome.
Danielli replaced wing Rory Lamont, out with a facial fracture, in one of two injury-enforced changes to the team that beat England 15-9 at Murrayfield last weekend.
Hooker Fergus Thomson is set to make his first start after Ross Ford was ruled out with ankle ligament damage sustained in Saturday's Calcutta Cup triumph — Scotland's first win of the 2008 Six Nations.
Scotland coach Frank Hadden, explaining Danielli's recall after Lamont was ruled out following a collision with England fullback Iain Balshaw, said: "Simon Danielli has played consistently well for some time now and I had no hesitation in giving him the chance to restart his international career.
"Fergus Thomson played really well when he came on against England. He took his opportunity with both hands and thoroughly deserves his first start for Scotland," the coach added.
Italy are bottom of the table with four losses from as many matches, although they ran Ireland and England close, and Hadden said it was vital Scotland made sure their Calcutta Cup win wasn't an isolated success.
"Saturday was another indication of the progress we feel we have made. After a very poor start to the Championship, it's vital we maintain that progression this weekend against a side that will represent a formidable challenge."
Hadden has retained the five-two bench split between forwards and backs.
"We felt the impact made by the forward substitutes in the Calcutta Cup had a bearing on the outcome. We believe this is the right way to approach this game as well."
Scotland must win or avoid defeat by five points or fewer against Italy to make sure they do not pick up the Championship wooden spoon for the second successive season.
They edged out the Azzurri 18-16 in France to reach the quarterfinals of last year's World Cup in France after Italy had won 37-17 in the Six Nations at Murrayfield. On their last visit to Rome, in 2006, Scotland won 13-10.
Scotland: Hugo Southwell; Simon Danielli, Simon Webster, Graeme Morrison, Nikki Walker; Chris Paterson, Mike Blair (capt); Simon Taylor, Allister Hogg, Alasdair Strokosch; Scott MacLeod, Nathan Hines; Euan Murray, Fergus Thomson, Allan Jacobsen
Replacements: Scott Lawson, Alasdair Dickinson, Craig Smith, Jason White, Kelly Brown, Rory Lawson, Dan Parks
AFP
