Union News

Cotter and Scotland looking to 'dominate' Australia

Scotland downed by Wallabies late show

His side may be underdogs but head coach Vern Cotter insists that Scotland can progress to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals should they play at the top of their game against Australia.

Cotter's side secured their place in the last eight with a thrilling victory over Samoa last weekend – and he’s named three 2013 British & Irish Lions in his starting XV to face the Wallabies on Sunday.

Lions duo Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland will start at full-back and wing respectively, with Tommy Seymour rounding out the back three.

Captain Greig Laidlaw links up with Finn Russell in the half-backs again, while Peter Horne comes in for Matt Scott at inside centre.

In the pack, Blair Cowan comes in at blindside flanker while Tim Swinson joins another 2013 Lion in Richie Gray in the boiler room and Fraser Brown starts at hooker.

Cotter said: "It's always nice to be part of the final eight of any qualifying competition, the guys are very excited about being here.

"We will go into this game with the belief that we can compete with and dominate a very strong Australian team, and move forward to the last four.

"They are a front-foot momentum team so defence will be key but also getting our hands on the ball and expressing ourselves as we like to."

Scotland team to play Australia:

15. Stuart Hogg

14. Sean Maitland

13. Mark Bennett

12. Peter Horne

11. Tommy Seymour

10. Finn Russell

9. Greig Laidlaw

1. Alasdair Dickinson

2. Fraser Brown

3. WP Nel

4. Tim Swinson

5. Richie Gray

6. Blair Cowan

7. John Hardie

8. Dave Denton

Replacements:

16. Kevin Bryce

17. Gordon Reid

18. Jon Welsh

19. Alasdair Strokosch

20. Josh Strauss

21. Henry Pyrgos

22. Richie Vernon

23. Sean Lamont

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