Henry Pyrgos to make first start for Scotland against Tonga as Robinson rings changes

Henry Pyrgos will make his first start for Scotland in Saturday's Test with Tonga at Pittodrie

Henry Pyrgos will make his first start for Scotland in Saturday's Test against Tonga in Aberdeen.

The Glasgow scrum-half came off the bench to score Scotland's only try in last weekend's defeat to South Africa, and has been given the nod ahead of Mike Blair as they attempt to sign off their November series with a win.

Coach Andy Robinson has made five changes to his starting side, with hooker Scott Lawson earning his first start since August 2011.

Max Evans is preferred to Nick De Luca at outside centre, lock Alastair Kellock comes in for Jim Hamilton, while Alasdair Strokosch is restored to the side after recovering from a calf injury.

Robinson has also made four changes to his bench for the Pittodrie clash, with uncapped duo Grant Gilchrist and Tom Heathcote named in the match-day 23.

"We will not be among the top eight seeds for the 2015 Rugby World Cup draw, so this weekend I'm looking at giving a number of players an opportunity to put their hand up for selection for next year," said Robinson.

"This weekend we have to put together an 80-minutes performance and build on the positive parts of our games that we showed in the last 30 minutes against South Africa and the second half against New Zealand."

Scotland: Hogg (Glasgow), Lamont (Glasgow), Evans (Castres), Scott (Edinburgh), Visser (Edinburgh), Laidlaw (Edinbrugh), Pyrgos (Glasgow); Grant (Glasgow), Lawson (London Irish), Murray (Worcester), Gray (Sale), Kellock (Glasgow), Strokosch (Perpignan), Brown (Saracens, capt), Denton (Edinburgh).
Replacements: Hall (Glasgow), Traynor (Bristol), Cross (Edinburgh), Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Barclay (Glasgow), Lawson (Newcastle), Heathcote (Bath), De Luca (Edinburgh).