Scotland will be after a morale boosting win at Pittodrie © Getty Images

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Blair seeking ruthless edge from Scotland

Matches Scotland 41 - 0 Canada

Teams Canada | Scotland

Scotland have been forced into four changes for Saturday's third and final autumn Test against Canada at Pittodrie.

Full-back Chris Paterson, wing Thom Evans and flanker Jason White have been omitted after suffering injuries in the weekend's 14-10 defeat to South Africa.

After missing that match and the previous Saturday's defeat to New Zealand, the fit again Simon Taylor replaces Allister Hogg at No.8. White's spot has been taken by Alasdair Strokosch.

Also drafted in are wings Simon Webster and Nikki Walker, with Rory Lamont switching to full-back. Max Evans is included in a senior Scotland 22 for the first time after being named on the bench.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden said: "There is an element of freshening up the squad and it's also an opportunity to look at certain blends ahead of the Six Nations but, as ever, the selection is about winning the game."

Head Coach Kieran Crowley has named a re-jigged front row, and a new cap on the wing as Canada get set to play the Scots in Aberdeen.

In the front row, Cornish Pirates' Scott Franklin comes in at tight-head prop - allowing Mike Pletch to move to hooker, replacing Pat Riordan who was injured in the game against Wales. The second row remains unchanged from last Friday night's pairing, with Vancouver's Tyler Hotson and Josh Jackson continuing.

In the back row Jebb Sinclair wins his fourth cap, showing his stock as a flanker has risen through the length of this tour. He packs down with Adam Kleeberger and Aaron Carpenter. Ed Fairhurst will captain the side from scrum-half, and he will partner new cap Matt Evans at half-back.

On the wing it will be a debut for Sean Duke, while on the opposite wing Plymouth Albion's Justin Mensah-Coker lends his height and pace into what will be a pacy back three. At fullback James Pritchard wins his fourth cap of this tour, with his speed into the line and place-kicking continuing to be a huge part of this Canadian team.

Scotland: R Lamont; S Webster, B Cairns, N De Luca, N Walker; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, R Ford, E Murray, N Hines, J Hamilton, A Strokosch, J Barclay, S Taylor.

Replacements: D Hall, A Dickinson, M Mustchin, S Gray, R Lawson, D Parks, M Evans.

Canada: J Pritchard (Bedford); S Duke (University of Victoria), C Hearn (Castaway Wanderers), R Smith (Calgary Irish), J Mensah-Coker (Plymouth Albion); M Evans (Hartpury College), E Fairhurst (Cornish Pirates, capt); K Tkachuk (Glasgow), M Pletch (Velox Valhallians), S Franklin (Cornish Pirates), T Hotson (Northern Suburbs), J Jackson (Bordeaux), J Sinclair (Castaway Wanderers), A Kleeberger (University of Victoria), A Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins).

Replacements: F Walsh (Vandals), M Burak (Cornish Pirates), S Michael Stephen (Plymouth Albion), M Williams (James Bay), N Hirayama (University of Victoria), B Keys (Velox Valhallians), A N Other.

Referee: G. Clancy (Ire)

Assistant Referees: A. Lewis (Ire) S. Terheege (Eng)

TMO: N. Whitehouse (Wal)

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