Robinson throws down the gauntlet

ENGLAND head coach Andy Robinson has challenged his experimental squad for the two-match tour to Australia to stake their claims for regular places in the build-up to the 2007 World Cup in France.

“For any player who gets an opportunity, it’s about being in possession of the shirt and it’s about performing to stay in possession,” he said.

Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has drafted Border Reivers back-row forward Kelly Brown into his team for the game against the Barbarians at Murrayfield tomorrow.

The 23-year-old will replace flanker Allister Hogg.

SCOTLAND (v Barbarians, Murrayfield: H Southwell (Edinburgh Gunners); C Paterson (do), M Di Rollo (do), A Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), S Lamont (Northampton Saints); D Parks (Glasgow Warriors), M Blair (Edinburgh Gunners); G Kerr (Leeds Tykes), S Lawson (Glasgow Warriors), C Smith (Edinburgh Gunners), A Kellock (do), S Murray (do), J White (Sale Sharks, capt), A Hogg (Edinburgh Gunners), K Brown (Border Reivers).

Replacements: D Hall (Edinburgh Gunners), B Douglas (Border Reivers), S MacLeod (do), D Macfadyen (Glasgow Warriors), S Pinder (do), G Ross (Leeds Tykes), S Webster (Edinburgh Gunners).