The Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has picked three new caps to face the challenge of a Romania side who, thanks largely to their French coach Bernard Charreyre, have improved beyond all recognition following their 134-0 humiliation at Twickenham last year.

The Harlequins prop Bruce Douglas has been preferred to the more experienced Mattie Stewart, who takes his place on the bench; the former Cambridge Blue Stuart Moffat gets a run at full-back; and Nikki Walker comes in on the wing.

Indeed, the 6ft 4in, 15st Walker will be hoping that Jonah Lomu is not the only big flyer causing chaos today. The Borders winger toured with Scotland this summer and has been one of the successes of Tony Gilbert's new Borders team.

Romania, after holding Wales to a less than convincing 40-3 triumph last weekend, start with nine of the team who lost 21-18 to Scotland A on Tuesday.

One of the tries that day came from Ionut Tofan and the diminutive fly-half will be pleased that for once in his life he will stand eyeball to eyeball with his opponent. Scotland's Gordon Ross is also 5ft 8in tall and has been handed the No10 shirt ahead of the veteran Gregor Townsend.

Scotland: Moffat (Glasgow); Walker (Borders), Craig (Orrell), Laney (Edinburgh), Paterson (Edinburgh); Ross (Leeds), Redpath (Sale, capt); Smith (Northampton), Bulloch (Glasgow), Douglas (Borders), Murray (Edinburgh), Grimes (Newcastle), Leslie (Edinburgh), Taylor (Edinburgh), Pountney (Northampton). Replacements: Scott (Borders), Stewart (Northampton), Hines (Edinburgh), Petrie (Glasgow), Beveridge (Glasgow), Townsend (Borders), Hinshelwood (Worcester).

Romania: Brezoianu; Teodorescu, Maftei, Gontineac (capt), Ghioc; Tofan, Mitu; Balan, Tincu, Dima, Petrichei, Petre, Corodeanu, Petrache, Chiriac. Replacements: Toderasc, Florea, Dragnea, Tonita, Socaciu, Sirbu, Coltuneac, Podea.