SOUTHERN KNIGHTS head coach Rob Chrystie has given Scotland Under-20s star Cammy Scott his first start for the franchise at stand-off in place of the experienced Jason Baggott as the Borderers look to extend their unbeaten run at the start of this Super6 season to four matches against bottom of the table Boroughmuir Bears at the Greenyards tomorrow [Sunday] afternoon.
Meanwhile, Patrick Anderson comes back into the starting XV on the left wing in place of Jacob Henry, who has been called in by Edinburgh for next week’s training camp in Largs. In the pack, Harry Bothwick and Allan Ferrie start on the back-row, vice-captain Grant Shiells takes over from Shaun Gunn at loose-head
The Bears have not tasted success since their opening night win over Heriot’s, but Chrystie insists that the visitors pose a significant threat. “They have got some extremely dangerous players in attack and look to play an expansive style,” he said. “We have had another good week at training and the players are determined to put in a performance that our supporters can be proud of.”
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Opposite number Graham Shiel has had to contend with some major disruption across the backline with his four first choice centres – Robbie McCallum, Michael Gray, Ronan Kerr and Greg Cannie – meaning a reshuffle which sees Jordan Edmunds shift to the No13 jersey, Tom Brown take over on the left wing, and Martin Cimprich start at full-back.
With second-row Ewan Stewart sustaining a season-ending injury last weekend, Shiel has added 18-year-old centre Duncan Munn – a former Kelvinside Academy pupil who was playing at Cartha QP – to the Bears’ 32-man squad squad, and he comes straight into the starting XV for this match in the No12 jersey.
Up front, Will Inglis makes his first appearance of the campaign in the second-row, Scott McGinley replaces unavailable Glasgow Academy player Rhys Tait at open side, while Martin McGinley and Tom Drennan have recovered from injuries to claim spots on the bench.
“It has been a tough start to the season and whilst we have in parts played well and competed, we have afforded teams too much respect resulting in a head start on the scoreboard which at this level of rugby is very tough to get back,” said Shiel. “We know that the journey down to Melrose is always tough, so the group will have to be accurate in all that they do and continue to work hard to restrict the opportunities afforded to Southern Knights.”
Southern Knights (v Boroughmuir Bears at the Greenyards, on Sunday 22nd August, kick-off 1.30pm): J Jenkins; B Wara, N Godsmark, C Jackson (captain), P Anderson; C Scott, M Mcandrew; G Shiells (vice-captain), F Renwick, E McLaren, A Runciman, D Suddon, H Borthwick, A Ferrie, I Moody.
Substitutes: R Ferguson,S Gunn,C Crookshanks, J Head, D Redpath, C Jones, J Baggott, I Sm.
Boroughmuir Bears: M Cimprinch; G Faulds, J Edmunds, D Munn, T Brown; T Pittman, K Barreto; G Cave, C McKenzie, D Winning (co-captain), J Fisher, W Inglis, C Keddie (co-captain), S McGinley, T Andrews.
Subs: C McMillan, R Dunbar, M McGinley, T Drennan, M Mncube, K McGhie, M Johnstone, TBC.
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