The influence of new Scotland coach Ian McGeechan spread to the A team who included four of his old Northampton team in the side to face Italy in Colleferro next Friday.

Back-row duo Simon Holmes and Don Mackinnon, giant lock Richard Metcalfe and winger Craig Moir have all been selected as Scotland try to repeat their championship-winning achievements of 1998.

As expected, the Scots have stuck largely by the side which defeated Holland 99-0 at Murrayfield shortly before Christmas.

George Graham and Andy Reed, who both missed out on selection for the full side this week, were not considered but flanker Cammy Mather is drafted in.

The side will be skippered by Graham Shiel, who like Edinburgh Reivers' team mate Chris Paterson, has guaranteed his fitness for Monday night's training session.

Since Budge Pountney returned to Franklins Gardens after the World Cup, Holmes has largely been reduced to bench duties with the Saints.

However, in his sporadic appearances, the 33-year-old Workington-born player has impressed enough to merit selection.

"Simon played last week against Bedford and was man of the match," said Scotland A manager Rob Flockhart.

"He is playing as well as ever and if the main team got two or three injuries, he would certainly come into contention."

Flockhart believes his side contains a useful mixture of youth and experience, although there will be no involvement from any of the under-21 players who trained with the senior and A team squads earlier this month.

Much will be expected of Paterson in his preferred position of stand-off while Glasgow Caledonian youngster Graham Beveridge is preferred to Graeme Burns and Ian Fairley in the scrum-half slot.

Fairley started the full international last season but has not enjoyed the best of seasons at Edinburgh Reivers and Flockhart believes he will benefit from a spell out of the limelight.

"Ian has had a difficult time over the last couple of months so it makes sense for him to step away for a little bit.

"We were keen to involve Graeme because he gives us the sharpness and all round ability we are looking for.

"There are some experienced players in he side who should be looking at winning an international place and thers who will be eyeing the New Zealand tour at the end of the season.

"Some have more to prove than others and I will be reminding them of that
before the game."

Scotland A team to play Italy A in the Six Nations championship at Colleferro on Friday, February 4 (kick-off 4pm GMT).

D Lee (Edinburgh Reivers); C Moir(Northampton), D Officer (Harlequins), G Shiel (Edinburgh Reivers, capt), A Murdoch (Bedford); C Paterson (Edinburgh Reivers), G Beveridge(Glasgow Caledonians); P Johnstone(Bristol), S Brotherstone (Brive), G McIlwham (Glasgow Caledonians), J White(Glasgow Caledonians), R Metcalfe (Northampton), C Mather (Edinburgh Reivers), S Holmes (Northampton), D Mackinnon (Northampton).

Replacements:
S Scott (Edinburgh Reivers), B Stewart(Edinburgh Reivers), A Lucking(Edinburgh Reivers), C Hogg (Edinburgh Reivers), G Burns (Edinburgh Reivers), M McKenzie (Bourgoin), C Joiner(Leicester).