Johnson considers backs' line-up

 

Injuries sustained in last weekend's match against France have meant that Johnson will have to consider his options before the final game of the Six Nations Championship against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

 

Meanwhile, among the forwards, the only change to the eight which started the French Test sees Ryan Wilson restored to the backrow in place of the injured Johnnie Beattie, with the experienced Alasdair Strokosch returning to provide cover on the bench.

 

Prop Alasdair Dickinson, has recovered from the calf injury he sustained in Rome last month, and also returns to the substitutes.

 

Johnson said: "We're obviously already without Sean Lamont in the backs after the knee problem he picked up against France.

 

"We've also got some concerns about our wingers, Tommy [Seymour] and Max [Evans] and we're going to wait until tomorrow to see how they are."

 

Options then could see Jack Cuthbert, the 26-year-old Edinburgh Rugby back, who won his only cap to date in the 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Ireland, return to the fray.

 

Cuthbert made a strong impression in the Scotland A draw with England Saxons at Scotstoun in January, as did his Edinburgh Rugby team-mate Dougie Fife.

 

Fife has scored ten tries for Edinburgh Rugby in 41 appearances.

 

There is also Lee Jones, whose last cap was against Ireland two years ago, but has been revitalised after involvement with Scotland 7s on the Sevens World Series and his loan spell with Glasgow Warriors.

 

Chris Cusiter, Jack Cuthbert, Alex Dunbar, Max Evans, Dougie Fife, Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Lee Jones, Greig Laidlaw, Matt Scott, Duncan Taylor, Richie Vernon, Duncan Weir 

 

Not considered due to injury: Nick De Luca 

 

8 David Denton, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Ryan Grant     

Referee: Jerome Garces. 

Assistant referees: Chris Pollock and Greg Garner. 

TMO: Graham Hughes.