ARGENTINA v SCOTLAND
Venue: Tucuman Date: Saturday, 12 June Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC Two Scotland, BBC Sport website, Red Button and BBC Radio Scotland

Rory Lawson has been preferred to Mike Blair at scrum-half for Scotland's opening Test against Argentina in Tucuman on Saturday.

Six Nations skipper Chris Cusiter is not included after failing to shrug off a knee injury in time.

With Blair on the bench and Cusiter absent, Glasgow lock Alastair Kellock will captain the side.

Uncapped Edinburgh back Jim Thompson is among the replacements for Andy Robinson's team.

Lawson, who will win his 19th cap in Tucuman, has been rewarded for his fine form with Gloucester and will also act as vice-captain in what will be just a second start for his country.

But there is no room in the starting XV for his club-mate Alasdair Strokosch, with Robinson sticking with the all-Glasgow back-row of Kelly Brown, Johnnie Beattie and John Barclay.

"Rory has performed well for Gloucester at the end of the season," explained Robinson. "You have to view this on merit. I think we have three outstanding scrum-halves and I believe it's right to pick Rory.

When Andy told me I was over the moon and have been every since Alastair Kellock

"Mike is a quality performer. He will still have an influence on the game at the weekend."

Cardiff Blues-bound Dan Parks stays at stand-off after an impressive Six Nations comeback, while Max Evans and Sean Lamont will patrol the wings.

Hugo Southwell is the full-back, with Nick De Luca and Graeme Morrison forming the centre partnership.

The only changes from the team that won in Ireland on the last weekend of the Six Nations are the inclusion of Lawson and Moray Low coming in at tight-head prop for the recuperating Euan Murray.

Glasgow captain Kellock will lead Scotland out for the first time in his career and Robinson is sure the powerful lock will rise to the occasion.

And he said he was relishing the prospect of skippering his country against the Pumas.

"When Andy told me I was over the moon and have been every since.

"I'm a passionate person and have been proud to get the chance to play for Scotland.

"When Andy asked me to captain the side it just made it that wee bit more special.".

MY SPORT: DEBATE How do you rate Scotland's chances in Argentina?

Robinson praised Kellock for his recent displays for Scotland and said he expected him to lead by example.

"He's played consistently well and it's important he puts in a top performance and leads from the front on Saturday," he added.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh prop Kyle Traynor has been drafted into the Scotland squad for the remainder of the tour.

The 24-year-old is being added to the party as a precaution, with Alasdair Dickinson struggling due to an abdominal upset.

He leaves the Scotland A squad in Bucharest preparing to launch their defence of the IRB Nations Cup.

Traynor's club colleague David Young will now travel to join the Scotland A squad in Romania.

Scotland, who lost out to the Pumas 9-6 at Murrayfield in November last year, will also come up against Argentina again at next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

Scotland: Hugo Southwell, Max Evans, Nick De Luca, Graeme Morrison, Sean Lamont, Dan Parks, Rory Lawson, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Moray Low, Jim Hamilton, Alastair Kellock (capt), Kelly Brown, Johnnie Beattie, John Barclay.
Replacements: Scott Lawson, Geoff Cross, Scott MacLeod, Alasdair Strokosch, Mike Blair, Phil Godman, Jim Thompson.

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