Fife has been called up after injuries to first-choice wings Sean Lamont and Tommy Seymour, with Lamont ruled out with a knee injury he picked up against France and Seymour following suit in missing the Millennium Stadium match after failing to come through training fully yesterday and today.
The 23-year-old has impressed in the RaboDirect PRO12 this term with four tries and a number of encouraging displays in 13 appearances and Scotland boss Scott Johnson is certain he can make the step up to the Test scene despite only having been called in earlier this week.
“We like Dougie’s size and his competitive edge. He chases everything, which I like, and he has shown really good glimpses playing for Edinburgh this season,” said Johnson.
“He’s been ear-marked by us for a while – we’ve been following him for the last 12 months – and he’s got his reward now. If he gets this one right, you might find that he puts a bit of pressure on (for a place) going forward, which is really good.”
“I’m absolutely delighted and can’t wait,” added Fife, who made his Edinburgh debut in the 2011/12 campaign and has featured against all four Welsh regions so far this term.
“The Millennium Stadium with the roof closed – I don’t think it could be much better than that, to be honest.
“When I got a run of games with Edinburgh and started doing fairly well I felt I could be on the brink (of a call up) if I stuck in there. Luckily, I’ve been patient and my time has come.”
Fellow wing Max Evans was also an injury doubt but the experienced Castres player has given Johnson a boost ahead of his last game in charge before handing over the reigns to Clermont’s Vern Cotter.
Evans is one of two more enforced changes to the starting line up having been on the bench against France, with Glasgow’s Ryan Wilson packing down on the blindside flank after Johnnie Beattie was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Perpignan flanker Alasdair Strokosch is named among the replacements for what will be his first involvement in this year’s tournament, while prop Alasdair Dickinson also features in the 23 having been declared fit again following the calf injury he sustained in the win over Italy last month.
Edinburgh full back Jack Cuthbert is another fresh inclusion in the 23 after initially being called up alongside Fife as cover for Seymour and Lamont.
Scotland: S Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); D Fife (Edinburgh), A Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), M Scott (Edinburgh), M Evans (Castres); D Weir (Glasgow Warriors); G Laidlaw (Edinburgh); R Grant (Glasgow Warriors), S Lawson (Newcastle), G Cross (Edinburgh), R Gray (Castres), J Hamilton (Montpellier), R Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), K Brown (Saracens, captain), D Denton (Edinburgh)
Replacements: R Ford (Edinburgh), A Dickinson (Edinburgh), E Murray (Worcester), T Swinson (Warriors), A Strokosch (Perpignan), C Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), D Taylor (Saracens), J Cuthbert (Edinburgh)
