Hadden sticking with core values

SCOTLAND coach Frank Hadden made four changes to the team that lost to South Africa for the final Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test with Canada this weekend, but insisted that he had kept the core of the side together in a determined bid to grasp the victory that has so far eluded them.

Scotland must win to keep alive hopes of leap-frogging Ireland into the top eight seeds for next month's World Cup draw, should Argentina defeat the Irish on Saturday. But the Scotland coaches have also taken the opportunity provided by injuries to reward Scotland 'A' talents and fringe players disappointed not to have featured against New Zealand and South Africa.

In comes Aberdeen-born wing Nikki Walker for Scotland's first full Test match at Pittodrie, along with Simon Webster from the 'A' team for the injured Thom Evans and Chris Paterson. Alasdair Strokosch replaces a third injury victim, Jason White, at blindside flanker – White's wife is also due to give birth today and so he has left the squad – while Simon Taylor, who has recovered from a calf strain, returns for Allister Hogg at No8.

Instead of sticking with Hugo Southwell, who played well after replacing Paterson just ten minutes into the Test with the Springboks, Hadden has shifted Rory Lamont from wing to full-back and handed uncapped Glasgow centre Max Evans the spot on the bench covering the outside back berths.

In sticking with the spine of the team, the coaches have kept Phil Godman at stand-off to further develop the new game-style which tries to offer more attacking threat in the side.

In that context, this Test match is vital. A failure to add a finish against a side ranked six places below them in the world would be altogether more worrying than was the case against the world's top two.

Dan Parks remains on the bench with Hadden insisting that both fly-halves are working hard on their kicking practise this week, with Paterson absent, with an improvement demanded this weekend.

Hadden admitted that dropping Hogg and Southwell out of the 22 had been "very tough" decisions, but explained that Taylor was always going to return when fit and that he wanted to see more of Scott Gray, and felt the Northampton flanker had more impact potential as a second-half substitute.

Similarly, the Evans call-up was based on wanting to see what the burgeoning talent was capable of at Test level. The coach stated: "We've put last weekend to bed with a very exhaustive de-brief. There was some honest talking; of course there were a lot of positives to be taken, but there were aspects of the game we weren't happy with and we know we have to improve on if we are going to be the team we think we can be.

"We have freshened up the side a bit, but kept the front five and midfield very much intact. The front five have earned the right to stay together, and it's important that they grow together as a unit because we think they could do a fair bit of damage in the Six Nations. They will be under pressure (after big back-to-back Tests], but we're keen to put them under pressure.

"The set-piece is a work in progress; the scrummage has done particularly well, but the lineout should be better for the extra week's preparation.

"It's also been tough for the centres (Nick de Luca and Ben Cairns] up against the best two midfields in the world and I think they have acquitted themselves well. I expect them now to kick on from that experience and really prove that they're capable of playing consistently at this level irrespective of the opposition."

While the selection will inevitably disappoint individuals – Kelly Brown, the Glasgow flanker, could be particularly aggrieved at not featuring at all this month – there is much merit in the decisions to call Strokosch back into the side after the controversial decision to promote White without much game-time, restore in-form Ospreys wing Walker and see the exciting Evans at the next level.

On Strokosch, Hadden said: "Al gets an opportunity to prove the selectors wrong. I don't know if Al is an angry man, but he's a pretty desperate man.

"He was very unlucky to be left out in the first place, and we're expecting a big performance from him on Saturday. As usual, it's a balancing act trying to get the selection right. We're fully aware that we have to win this weekend from a rankings situation, although that's ultimately out of our hands.

"It's also a last opportunity prior to the Six Nations, where we fully intend to make a real impact with the depth and competitiveness we've got in the squad."

The SRU reported that ticket sales were yesterday close to 16,000, with a capacity of 20,500 at Pittodrie this weekend, but the appearance of 'A' team try-scorers such as Walker, Webster and the older Evans brother, Max, should help lift expectations.

Evans admitted: "To hear my name in the line-up with the other guys was just brilliant, and now I just hope I can take my opportunity if I get it. It's a shame Thom's not involved this weekend, but I'm sure there will come a time when we play together – it will be a bit like a role reversal for him coming to watch me this weekend.

"Frank (Hadden] was really considerate to speak to me before the New Zealand game, to tell me how close selection was for that game, so I knew I was close and just went out on Friday night (with the 'A' team] and just tried to give it everything.

"I was delighted with the try, but on video it looks easier than it did when I scored it; it looks like everyone was just sliding off me, but it didn't feel like that at the time!

"But I love scoring and getting the ball in a bit of space is what I thrive on. I can't wait to get that chance for Scotland if I get on this weekend."