Cusiter wins battle of the Scots

The Glasgow scrum-half and his Edinburgh rival were named as joint captains of their country last week, and it is Cusiter who will have the honour of leading Scotland out at Murrayfield in the first of their three autumn internationals.

New Scotland coach Andy Robinson has named 18 Magners League players in his matchday 22, with 12 of those winning a starting berth against the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists.

Robinson, who is entering his first November series with Scotland, has chosen six players from Glasgow Warriors in his starting XV, with three Edinburgh stars also included and one each from fellow Magners League outfits Ulster, Leinster and the Scarlets.

Toulon full back Rory Lamont, Gloucester flanker Alasdair Strokosch and Worcester centre Alex Grove are the only non-Magners League players to earn a starting spot, with 21-year-old Grove the only new cap in the side.

"We have selected a side that's full of power - that has the pace but also has the skill level to break down the Fijians," said Robinson, who took over from Frank Hadden as Scotland boss in June of this year having previously spent two seasons in the Magners League with Edinburgh.

"Fiji are above us in the IRB rankings. They are a very dangerous team to play against. They are a very strong, powerful side who also hit very hard. We have to match fire with fire."

Scotland vs Fiji, Murrayfield, Saturday, November 14 kick off 2.30pm

Rory Lamont (Toulon); Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) Simon Danielli (Ulster); Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors, captain); Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)

Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)

Not considered due to injury: Ben Cairns, Alasdair Dickinson, Max Evans, Jim Hamilton, Ruaridh Jackson and Euan Murray