Scotland coach Frank Hadden has recalled Chris Cusiter for the RBS 6 Nations opener against England on Saturday. The Borders scrum-half will start at Twickenham after making his first outing for two months in a Magners League clash last Friday.

Cusiter suffered a shoulder injury during Scotland's win over Pacific Islanders in November and his return ahead of schedule gave Hadden a boost with Mike Blair ruled out with a shoulder injury himself.

Lock James Hamilton has been handed his first start, while Hugo Southwell is the third change to the team that lost 44-15 to Australia in the final autumn Test.

There is no place in the squad for Simon Webster following his recovery from injury but Rob Dewey and Allister Hogg have been named among the substitutes.

Hamilton, who made his debut from the bench against Romania in November, replaces Scott Murray who is named among the replacements.

Southwell starts at full-back with Chris Paterson — captain for the championship in place of the injured Jason White — moving to the wing in place of Webster.

Webster misses out after making his comeback for Edinburgh on Friday following the leg injury he suffered against the Wallabies.

Scotland(v England): H Southwell (Edinburgh); S Lamont (Northampton), M Di Rollo (Edinburgh), A Henderson (Glasgow), C Paterson (Edinburgh, capt); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Borders); G Kerr (Borders), D Hall (Edinburgh), E Murray (Glasgow), A Kellock (Glasgow), J Hamilton (Leicester), S Taylor (Edinburgh), D Callam (Edinburgh), K Brown (Borders). Replacements: R Ford (Borders), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), S Murray (Edinburgh), A Hogg (Edinburgh), R Lawson (Gloucester), R Dewey (Edinburgh), R Lamont (Glasgow).