By Max Devo
January 24 2012
Ross Ford, the 27-year-old Edinburgh hooker, will lead Scotland in the Six Nations opener against England at Murrayfield on Saturday Feb 4th ....
Ford has 53 caps and was also a British and Irish Lion in South Africa in 2009. Coach Andy Robinson says he is a “man who will step up and lead from the front.”
Robinson confirmed today that his original intention had been to bestow the captaincy on Ford’s fellow Borderer, back-row forward, Kelly Brown.
Brown, however, was injured in Heineken Cup action for his club, Saracens, against Benetton Treviso at the weekend.
Robinson said: “This is a special day for Ross, who has been a key figure in our leadership group and our most consistent performer for some time. I firmly believe he is the man who will step up and lead from the front.
“That said, I’m really disappointed for Kelly Brown. I had asked him to be the captain late last week but unfortunately injury will deprive him of that honour and the chance to lead out his country for his 50th cap. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Scotland team doctor James Robson said: “Following the scans that Kelly underwent yesterday and consultation with a knee specialist, Kelly will require a small operation to stabilise the fibula head in his leg – which he dislocated. "
Meanwhile, five other players continued their recovery from injuries and did not train with the Scotland squad at St Andrews today – props Alasdair Dickinson (shoulder) and Ed Kalman (calf), back-row forward David Denton and stand-off Ruaridh Jackson (hamstring) and full-back/wing Rory Lamont (leg bruising).
Jon Welsh, the uncapped 25-year-old Glasgow Warriors prop, has been added to the Scotland squad and he trained at St Andrews.
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