Interim Scotland coach Scott Johnson has wasted no time in keeping his promise to start developing players for the next Rugby World Cup.
Johnson named three uncapped players and two that have yet to play a full 80 minutes of international rugby in the side to face the formidable challenge of Samoa in the opening Test of their tour of South Africa.
“It is a perfect opportunity for us to see these guys in Test footie,” Johnson said. “They are in key positions where we need to increase our depth.
“We are mindful of the fact that we probably have only 25 Test matches available to us prior to the World Cup and this is the start of that campaign.
“We are not going to give jerseys away but we have to understand what is in our squad. We can’t be exposed to injury issues and the best way to prevent that is to give kids opportunities.”
Most of the changes were predictable, the biggest surprise being the decision to give Bath’s Tom Heathcote his first Test start at fly-half after winning his only other cap as a late replacement against Tonga last year.
Lock Grant Gilchrist will also be making only his second start after playing 50 minutes in Scotland’s final RBS 6 Nations match against France, although there is plenty of experience in the back row and on the wings, where Tim Visser and Sean Lamont line up.
Glasgow Warriors centre Alex Dunbar is among the trio of newcomers alongside Greig Tonks at full-back replacing Stuart Hogg, on Lions duty and hooker Pat MacArthur, whose selection became inevitable once Ross Ford dropped out last week.
Johnson is anxious to have a look at all five players but particularly Heathcote, who could be the long-term answer to the decade-old problem position.
“Tom (Heathcote) showed a great deal of loyalty to us at a young age and this is a good chance for him,” Johnson said.
“Tonks is a left-footer and I have to see if his skills hold up at this level. Alex Dunbar’s form at a regional level has been superb and he has earned that right. It is a good chance for them but it is only a chance, and we are looking forward to seeing how they perform.
“We are expecting a hard match from them but they should be expecting a hard match from us too. We are going out to compete on all fronts, skill as well as physicality. If we get that right, we will do well.”
All the new caps realise this is their chance to make a case for the world cup, even though it is still two years away.
Dunbar said: “I’m thrilled. I’ve been fortunate enough to play regularly for Glasgow this season and we’ve been on a great run. It’s fantastic to have the chance to come out here and play.
“It’s a huge opportunity for me. There are a lot of young guys who have come into the squad who are looking to impress.”
For Tonks who might have been slightly surprised to have overtaken Peter Murchie in the race to understudy Hogg it was full justification of his move to Edinburgh a year ago.
“It has been a good move for me,” he said.
“This was the aim, the reason I came to Scotland. I joined Edinburgh with a view to playing as much rugby and as well as I could, and if anything happened off the back of that, then brilliant. Fortunately it has.
“It’s great to play in South Africa. It’s such a rugby-mad country. The environment is fantastic.”
MacArthur said: “Now it is about a big week training and making the most of it on Saturday.
“It was a proud moment when I heard I was starting for my country. I have been pushing for a while and now that I have got my chance I have to prove a point.”