Scotland Make 11 Georgian Changes

Scotland have made 11 changes for Wednesday's Pool B clash against Georgia with Rory Lawson named skipper.

Only wings Max Evans and Sean Lamont, prop Allan Jacobsen and flanker Kelly Brown are retained from the opening game against Romania.

Scotland scored two late tries as they came from behind to beat the East Europeans 34-24 in Invercargill.

But coach Andy Robinson said: "This should not be interpreted as a reflection on our opening performance."

Nevertheless, the unconvincing display coupled with the short amount of time between games meant changes were inevitable.

Sean Lamont is to move from centre to wing, with Brown switching to number eight from blind-side flanker.

Lawson takes the captaincy from Alastair Kellock, who is left out of the matchday 22, with Nathan Hines and Jim Hamilton forming the second row partnership.

Hooker Scott Lawson and tight-head prop Euan Murray join Jacobsen in the front row, while alongside Brown in the back row are Ross Rennie and Alasdair Strokosch.

Dan Parks is to start at fly-half with a centre combination of Graeme Morrison and Nick De Luca and the Lamont brothers joined by Evans in the back three.

On the replacements' bench, Scotland have opted for five forwards and two backs in anticipation of the forward challenge posed by Georgia, who are coached by former Scotland boss Richie Dixon.

Scotland will be seeking a fifth successive victory on Wednesday and coach Robinson stressed the changes were due to the time between matches, rather than the under-par opening showing on Saturday.

He said: "The selection is based on the four-day turnaround from Saturday's match and is about us continuing our winning start to the tournament with a victory over Georgia.

"We spoke before the tournament about the need to utilise our squad over these opening two games given the proximity of the fixtures and that is what we have done.

"Of course we will look for considerable improvement on our display at the weekend, particularly in our discipline at the breakdown, an area where we have been consistently good in recent times. We simply must not give away cheap three points."

Scotland: R Lamont; M Evans, N De Luca, G Morrison, S Lamont; D Parks, R Lawson(capt); A Jacobsen, S Lawson, E Murray, N Hines, J Hamilton, A Strokosch, R Rennie, K Brown.

Replacements: R Ford, G Cross, A Dickinson, R Gray, R Vernon, C Cusiter, C Paterson.

Scot Victory Vital for Robinson

Victory is Scotland head coach Andy Robinson's solitary aim for Saturday's World Cup opener with Romania.

The expectation is Scotland will win comfortably, but Robinson is not underestimating Romeo Gontineac's side.

"The key aim for us is to win the game," he said. "The rest of it takes care of itself.

"They're going to be physical and for us, as always, it's about being able to control the scoreboard, but to also be able to think clearly under pressure."

Scotland's campaign begins in Invercargill against The Oaks, with Georgia following on Wednesday before Argentina on 25 September and England on 1 October.

Robinson's side have been preparing for the tournament for three months and will be looking to take the initiative on Saturday.

"It's a good Test match," added the former England and Edinburgh coach. "They're a young side with a little bit of experience there - a number of players who play in France for Perpignan.

We like to play with the ball in-hand, we like to move the ball around - contrary to what some people think about Scotland Andy Robinson

"We're going to have to take them on, as always in any game.

"If we can get a go-forward, get quick ball, then you can put the defence under pressure.

"If you get slow ball it's a lot easier for the defence to pick you up.

"There's going to be some big pressure moments. We've got to be able to defend well, but also when we get opportunities take those opportunities.

"The guys are all looking forward to it. They've worked really hard, there's a great team spirit and now it's about delivering a performance."

Scotland are fielding arguably their first-choice forward pack, with captain Alastair Kellock joined in the second row by Richie Gray, a back row of Kelly Brown, John Barclay and Richie Vernon and an all-Edinburgh front row of Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Geoff Cross.

The forwards will be key to forward momentum and scrum-half Mike Blair and Ruaridh Jackson will look to unleash the backs, with Robinson looking for the expansive game which has been developed to continue.

Robinson added: "We like to play with the ball in-hand, we like to move the ball around - contrary to what some people think about Scotland and they way Scotland play.

"That's a key way we want to play the game, to move the ball.

"We've been working hard on the players to improve their skills - it's about delivering that in the game."

Scotland are seeking a fourth-straight victory after ending a disappointing Six Nations campaign with a win over Italy and World Cup warm-up successes over Ireland and the Azzurri.

"Winning breads confidence amongst a squad," continued Robinson. "It backs up the fact you're performing well.

"That's the key element for us - that we're here to win. We're competitive animals and that's what we're about."