Simpson back for Scotland

Gordon Simpson returns to the international fold

BBC Scotland and the Scottish Rugby Union websites are teaming up to provide exclusive live match commentary on Thursday's Scotland versus Barbarians game at Murrayfield (Kick-off 1915BST). To hear the commentary, fans should log into http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland or http://www.sru.org.uk.

Bryan Redpath will skipper Scotland against the Barbarians in a match to honour Gordon Brown at Murrayfield on 24 May.

His side includes Gordon Simpson, who has been frozen out of the national side since being disciplined for allegedly drinking on the eve of last autumn's Test match against the USA.

And Newcastle Falcons lock Doddie Weir has been handed his first international start for over a year.

The Newcastle captain, who has won 61 caps, gets his chance after a successful season in the north-east.

A late injury to Wasps winger Kenny Logan means a debut for Marcus Di Rollo and Newcastle flanker Andrew Mower also gets his first start in the blue of Scotland.

Andrew Mower is given a start

Two other would-be debutantes - Craig Smith and Donnie Macfadyen - await their call-ups as replacements.

"Obviously I want to introduce players that I think have the potential and that could also make a difference to what we are doing," Scotland coach Ian McGeechan said after the announcement.

Tigers back for Baa-Baas

The Barbarians, meanwhile, welcome back their Leicester contingent for the game.

Baa-Baas coach Bob Dwyer has included Richard Cockerill in the starting line-up after this weekend's European Cup final, while Geordan Murphy and Pat Howard will be on the bench.

Uncapped Friedrich Lombard of Blue Bulls will start as will six other players who are making their Barbarians debut.

Jonah Lomu, Cristian Stoica, Joost Van Der Westhuizen and Pat Lam are all included in the touring side.

But England wing Dan Luger, who is returning to fitness, will not play against the Scots.

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Scotland:
Paterson, C Murray (both Edinburgh Reivers), McLaren (Glasgow Caledonians), J Leslie (Northampton), Di Rollo (Edinburgh), Hodge (Edinburgh), Redpath (Sale Sharks) captain, Jacobsen (Edinburgh), G Bulloch (Glasgow), McIlwhan (Glasgow), Grimes, Weir (both Newcastle), G Simpson, Petrie (both Glasgow), Mower (Newcastle). Replacements: S Scott, C Smith, Fullarton (all Edinburgh), Macfadyen (Glasgow), Burns (Edinburgh), A Bulloch (Glasgow).

Barbarians (provisional):
Cristian Stoica (Narbonne & Italy), Jonah Lomu (Wellington Hurricanes & New Zealand), Kevin Maggs (Bath & Ireland), Tim Horan (Saracens & Australia), Friedrich Lombard (Blue Bulls), Percy Montgomery (Western Stormers & South Africa), Joost Van Der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls & South Africa), Kevin Yates (Wellington Hurricanes & England), Richard Cockerill (Leicester & England), Adrian Garvey (Newport & South Africa), Robin Brooke (Auckland Blues & New Zealand), John Langford (Munster & Australia), Ben Clarke (Bath & England), Josh Kronfeld (New Zealand), Pat Lam (Northampton & Western Samoa). Replacements: Naka Drotske (Blue Bulls & South Africa), Craig Dowd (Auckland Blues & New Zealand), Tom Bowman (NSW Waratahs & Australia), David Wilson (Harlequins & Australia), Geordan Murphy (Leicester & Ireland), Pat Howard (Leicester & Australia), Philippe Carbonneau (Pau & France).