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Logan returns Wing back in Scotland team to face Samoa
EDINBURGH (Reuters) -- Scotland rugby union coach Ian McGeechan has recalled wing Kenny Logan for a one-off test against Samoa at Murrayfield on Saturday. Logan, who comes in for Jon Steel on the left flank, is one of four changes to the side which lost 30-9 to world champion Australia last weekend. Lock Richard Metcalfe starts in place of Stuart Grimes and Jon Petrie moves from blindside flanker to the base of the scrum for the injured Simon Taylor. Jason White comes in as number six. McGeechan said he had resisted the temptation of using the Samoa test to experiment with new players. He said: "The changes we've made are for a definite reason. The important thing is consistency and continuity. "The real benefit for us in these autumn tests is from building team performances. "We would have wasted the work we've done in three weeks if we had to find a new team each week." Change of heart The recall of Logan, however, does represent a change of heart in the Scotland camp. The 28-year-old Wasps wing has been out of favor since last playing for Scotland in the Six Nations match against France last season. McGeechan said: "Kenny's been playing very well recently. He's had to work hard to force his way back into the squad and essentially he's had to prove himself again. "But the crucial thing is that he scores tries. He's a finisher and he knows what we want from him." Logan said that he felt he had justified his recall after regaining his best form. "I've been playing well for Wasps this season. But I've worked very hard over the past two weeks," Logan said. "I'm excited about the way Geech (McGeechan) wants me to play, which is all about working harder and getting my hands on the ball as much as possible. "When I first played for Scotland back in 1992 a wing waited until the ball was passed out to him. Now it's all about looking for work." As for the selection of Metcalfe in the starting line-up, McGeechan said it was a "tactical change" rather than any criticism of Grimes. "We're lucky to have two players like this. Stuart's tackle count on Saturday was the same as the back row forwards," he said. "But Richard gives us something else -- like 20 stone and seven feet and one inch." Scotland: 15-Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Reivers), 14-Cammy Murray (Edinburgh Reivers), 13-Alan Bulloch (Glasgow Caledonians), 12-John Leslie (Newcastle Falcons), 11-Kenny Logan (London Wasps); 10-Gregor Townsend (Castres), 9-Bryan Redpath (Sale); 8-Jon Petrie (Glasgow Caledonians), 7-Budge Pountney (Northampton Saints) (captain), 6-Jason White (Glasgow Caledonians), 5-Richard Metcalfe (Edinburgh Reivers), 4-Scott Murray (Saracens), 3-George Graham (Newcastle Falcons), 2-Steve Brotherstone (Northampton Saints), 1-Tom Smith (Brive). Replacements: 16-Gordon Bulloch (Glasgow Caledonians), 17-Gordon McIlwham (Newcastle Falcons), 18-Stuart Grimes (Newcastle Falcons), 19-Ross Beattie (Newcastle Falcons), 20-Graeme Beveridge (Glasgow Caledonians), 21-Duncan Hodge (Edinburgh Reivers), 22-Jon Steel (Glasgow Caledonians).
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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