The door was re-opened to John Barclay, but remains closed to Kelly Brown and was shut on Geoff Cross, John Beattie and Dougie Fife as Scotland head coach Vern Cotter named his extended training squad for this September’s Rugby World Cup.
The 46 named to be trimmed to 31 for Scotland’s fourth and final warm-up game in France on September 5, ahead of the opening game of the tournament against Japan in Gloucester on September 23 sees Cotter’s “core” from the dismal Six Nations campaign retained but augmented by a number of players who have barely featured for their clubs in the season just completed.
Damien Hoyland, Rory Hughes, Hugh Blake and Allan Dell have all managed just a sole start each this season, but Cotter feels he has seen something in the quartet clearly their club coaches haven’t.
While a series of experienced players are omitted, including Cross, Beattie and Fife who all started at least one game in the RBS 6 Nations, and while Brown and Edinburgh’s consistent Roddy Grant continue to be left out, John Barclay does get a recall from the coach.
The coach indicated that the Scarlets breakaway forward had improved on aspects of his game he was asked to address.
“I congratulate John, because we discussed things (earlier in the season) with him and felt that while he was a very good defensive player he wasn’t offering is enough in attack and carrying,” said Cotter.
“In the last three months he has impressed us because he has been playing eight and seven, and that gives them an advantage over someone like Roddy Grant.
“He has been carrying the ball and getting over the advantage line, and I think he has been effective at ruck time, getting more turnovers and being more of a threat without the ball.
“We are really happy to welcome him back into the group.”
As has been his previous practice, Cotter has picked fringe players from the pro teams at the expense of those playing regularly for Glasgow or Edinburgh. Blake, for example, has still only played one pro game in Scotland and is in the squad ahead of open side regulars Chris Fusaro and Grant.
“These are players who have shown promise,” said the coach. “We have four warm-up games to get through, three of them before we name the 31.
“We want to have a look at these guys, put them in an intense situation, assess them as rugby players and as athletes and see what they’ve got.”
As for those left out, Beattie, Brown, Grant and Dougie Fife were those named by Cotter as “close” to winning a squad place, and they might be required yet, he added.
“They may still get a call. We have to go through some pretty intensive training and games, so any of those players could still be called up and make the 31.
“It can’t be just a fixed group, we need some flexibility as well, but this is how we are starting.”
As well as the surprise quartet, the other uncapped players include as largely expected South African-born duo Josh Strauss and WP Nel, who complete their three-year residency qualifications shortly before the tournament begins.
Also there are Mike Cusack, the Glasgow tight-head, and Stuart McInally, the former Scotland Under 20 captain as a back row now converted to a hooker.
Cotter welcomes back players denied to him through injury or suspension for all or part of the 6 Nations, including Grant Gilchrist his original choice as captain Richie Gray, Ryan Wilson, Ruaridh Jackson, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Matt Scott, Duncan Taylor and Sean Maitland.
Some of these will not be on the training trip to the Pyrenees from June 15 as they finish rehab, but only Dunbar, returning from ACL surgery, is in any doubt for the tournament right now.
“Mark Bennett’s improving rapidly, that’s positive, Sean Maitland as well, also Matt Scott,” continued Cotter. “Alex is going well but we know his injury will take a little more time so we’re hoping middle of August latest to have him on the paddock.”
Cotter will split his squad with 18 forwards and 13 backs for the tournament, with Rob Harley and David Denton acting as both second row and back row selections. Cotter did express some personal concern about Denton’s second long absence in a year with concussion, but added that the player was now clear and ready to take full contact.
Gilchrist, who missed all but two months of the season with an arm injury, was also ready for full training while Richie Gray had already returned for Castres, his club in France.
Squad
Props: Mike Cusack (Glasgow), Allan Dell (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh), Ryan Grant (Glasgow), WP Nel (Edinburgh), Gordon Reid (Glasgow), Jon Welsh (Glasgow).
Hookers: Fraser Brown (Glasgow), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh).
Locks: Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Robert Harley (Glasgow), Tim Swinson (Glasgow).
Back rows: Adam Ashe (Glasgow), John Barclay (Scarlets), Hugh Blake (Glasgow), Blair Cowan (London Irish), David Denton (Edinburgh), Josh Strauss (Glasgow), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh).
Scrum-halves: Chris Cusiter (Sale Sharks), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow).
Fly-halves: Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps), Finn Russell (Glasgow), Duncan Weir (Glasgow).
Centres: Mark Bennett (Glasgow), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow), Peter Horne (Glasgow), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Richie Vernon (Glasgow).
Back Three: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow), Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh), Rory Hughes (Glasgow), Sean Lamont (Glasgow), Sean Maitland (Glasgow), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh), Tim Visser (Edinburgh).