Scotland skipper ruled out
Scotland will be without skipper Jason White for their RBS 6 Nations match against Ireland.
The Sale Sharks flanker has been ruled out with concussion, and scrum-half Mike Blair will lead the team in his absence.
Scott MacLeod and Alasdair Strokosch will bolster the pack, while Rory Lamont and Simon Webster return from injury in the backs. Jim Hamilton, Dan Parks and Nick De Luca will start on the bench.
MacLeod will be making his first start since the World Cup clash with New Zealand, while Strokosch has been handed his second cap.
One other positional switch sees Chris Paterson move from wing to stand-off.
The composition of Scotland's back row is still to be finalised.
Head coach Frank Hadden said: "We are waiting to assess the fitness of John Barclay. Then we will decide on who fills jerseys seven, eight and 19."
