Scott Johnson focused on finding Scotland rugby identity

“Look at the players in Scottish history – that is innately what we are good

at that is innately what we can be great at. I want the All Blacks,

Australia and South Africa to come out of games saying it was the hardest

Test match they have played. I reckon that is a pretty good reputation.”

Johnson also suggested that having one player – replacement back Sean Maitland

– in the Lions side on Saturday should be a wake-up call for the Scottish

game. No Scot has started a Lions Test on any tour since Tom Smith propped

against Australia in 2001.

Johnson said: “We have got to change perceptions, but we have got to be honest

and look at how we need to do that.”

Johnson was speaking after naming his side to play Italy in the Castle Lager

Incoming series third/fourth play-off in Pretoria on Saturday.

The starting line-up shows three changes, all enforced, from the side which

began against the Springboks. The places of shoulder injury victims Ruaridh

Jackson and Ryan Wilson have been given to Tom Heathcote and Dave Denton

respectively, while Al Kellock comes in for Hamilton, who flew home last

Sunday as his wife was due to give birth.

Scotland (v Italy, Pretoria, Saturday, June 22): P Murchie (Glasgow

Warriors); T Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), A Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), M

Scott (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); T Heathcote (Bath), G

Laidlaw (Edinburgh, capt); A Dickinson (Edinburgh), S Lawson (Newcastle), E

Murray (Worcester), T Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), A Kellock (Glasgow

Warriors), D Denton (Edinburgh), A Strokosch (Perpignan), J Beattie

(Montpellier).

Replacements F Brown (Glasgow Warriors), M Low (Glasgow Warriors), J

Welsh (Glasgow Warriors), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh), R Harley (Glasgow

Warriors), H Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), D Taylor (Saracens), T Visser

(Edinburgh).

Article source: http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,3551_8744527,00.html

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Scott Johnson focused on finding Scotland rugby identity