Andy Robinson insisted he had not started a Scotland revolution despite making 10 changes to the last side picked by his predecessor.

Head coach Robinson - who succeeded Frank Hadden this summer - has selected just five of those who started March's Six Nations defeat to England for his first match in charge against Fiji on Saturday.

And he has opted for size and power, especially in his back line, with recalls for Rory and Sean Lamont in the back three and no place in the starting XV for Chris Paterson.

He also has a new captain in Chris Cusiter, who got the nod over joint skipper Mike Blair in the battle for the scrum-half berth.

But asked if his selection proved this was a Robinson revolution, he said: "Not at all. This is about picking a side to perform against Fiji and we look at this as a 22.

"The guys that haven't been selected that are on the bench, they've got an impact to make as well.

"It's about the whole squad and how that works."

Asked if the team represented the Robinson blueprint going forward, he replied: "It's a team to play Fiji and win the game and the key for us is that we understand that rugby is a physical game; you have to win the collisions, you have to establish a go-forward.

"But it's also be able to have the skill levels to open up the spaces.

"I'd like to think that we've got the balance there in the 22 to be able to deliver that."

He added of Fiji: "They love running with the ball, they also love hitting you and going forward in defence and smashing you backwards.

"So we've got to be able to deal with their physicality, we've got to be able to attack through the spaces."

There is one new cap in Worcester centre Alex Grove and a first start for Glasgow prop Moray Low, both of whom revealed the side had actually been selected last Monday.

Robinson said: "It's a tough team pick; there's a real competition for places, and a number of 50-50 calls that had to be made.

"It's looking at the balance of the squad, looking at how we're going to put combinations together.

"I've been pleased with the way that Sean Lamont has performed for the Scarlets, but also Rory at Toulon, both going to new clubs.

"Chris Cusiter as captain; I think he's a had a great impact with Glasgow Warriors this year.

"It's been tough for him because he's had a number of injuries at times and a bit of illness, but when he's performed, he's been right up there."

Explaining what gave Cusiter - who has yet to lead his country - the nod over Blair, who had been sole captain for the last year and a half, Robinson said: "At times, you look at the team you're playing against.

"But also, these calls are very close; I've got to pick one of these guys and I felt that it was right to start with Chris.

"He has been very consistent this year and I've enjoyed watching the way that he's run with the ball as well."

With the talismanic Paterson on the bench, the onus will be on fly-half Phil Godman to translate his Edinburgh form on to the international stage.

Robinson said: "Phil's had a good record for Scotland - 81 per cent in the Magners League last year and I've been pleased with the times he's goal-kicked at international level.

"It's about Phil stepping up and obviously Chris will have an impact at some stage in the game."

The other big surprise was the absence of Glasgow wing Thom Evans from the 22.

Robinson explained once he had decided Evans was not going to start, he wanted more versatility on the bench.

He added: "Chris Paterson covers 10 and 15 and Nick de Luca will be covering 12 and 13 and the wing."

With a five-month build-up to his first game in charge, former England boss Robinson has been made to wait for his return to the international stage.

But he said on Monday: "There's plenty of time; there's another five days to go."

Full team: Rory Lamont (Toulon); Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Alex Grove (Worcester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow), Simon Danielli (Ulster); Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow, capt), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow), Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne), Richie Vernon (Glasgow), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh).