Rugby: Beattie believes Edinburgh will feature heavily for Scots

Edinburgh should provide six players for Scotland’s starting line-up when rugby coach Andy Robinson shows his hand tomorrow for Sunday’s EMC Test against New Zealand at Murrayfield.

Double British Lion John Beattie says the call must go out to Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Dave Denton, Greig Laidlaw, Tim Visser and Matt Scott as Scotland again attempt to make history with a first win in the fixture.

“Ross Ford (no longer captain) can concentrate on playing and will be the hooker and Geoff Cross for my mind is still a passionate player and ball carrier,” said Beattie.

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“For my money I’d go with Denton at 8 with Kelly Brown and John Barclay reunited in the back row.”

After pencilling in Matt Scott at centre – “he (Robinson) will be loyal, as far as possible, to the players who brought him success in the Southern Hemisphere” – Beattie said in a BBC blog: “Size could be key further out in the backs. Tim Visser and Sean Lamont must be in with a shout.”