Vern Cotter has named his Scotland squad for the November series against New Zealand, Tonga and Argentina. Grant Gilchrist is named as captain in a squad which does not contain Saracens flanker and former captain Kelly Brown.
In addition to Gilchrist there are a further five Edinburgh players, while 17 come from Glasgow and 10 ply their trade outside of Scotland. Mark Bennett, scorer of a brace in Glasgow’s big win over Bath at the weekend, is the only uncapped player in the squad.
Three youngsters have also been invited to train with the squad, in the form of 18-year old academy prop Zander Fagerson and Edinburgh duo Hamish Watson (flanker) and Allan Dell (prop).
Scotland squad for November series:
Forwards: Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors), Johnnie Beattie (Castres), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan, Geoff Cross (both London Irish), Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (both Edinburgh), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (c) (Edinburgh), Robert Harley, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Euan Murray, Gordon Reid (both Glasgow Warriors) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors).
Backs: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Cusiter (Sale Sharks), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Dougie Fife, Tom Heathcote (both Edinburgh), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos, Tommy Seymour (all Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Tim Visser (Edinburgh), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).
Not considered through injury: David Denton (returning from injury, Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant (returning from injury, Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (knee, London Wasps), Ross Rennie (knee, Bristol Rugby), Matt Scott (shoulder, Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh, Ryan Wilson (both returning from injury, Glasgow Warriors)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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What on earth has Kelly Brown done wrong? Never seems to be rated by the Scotland set up. Top player in my eyes and would walk into the team if I was to pick it. Always thought it was just Johnson’s scatty selection policy – but obviously not.
No Kelly, no big Jim, no max, no Barclay. A few youngsters like Ashe, Bennett, gray jnr. Maybe this is a changing of the guard.
Strokosch gets in while just back from injury, and playing in ProD2, ahead of Brown!
And I can only assume Ross Ford has pictures from the SRU post-AGM orgy.
Was wondering about Ross Ford. That would explain it ;-)
It will be interesting to see who is favoured for the 10 shirt. While Glasgow were superb as a team, I was not overwhelmed by Weir. Is this a chance for Heathcote?
Agree with John – changing of the guard… but Strokosch?
The coach is clueless!!!!!!!
Chance for Heathcote, Russell and Pyrgos to force a change of the guard here. This autumn is going to be huge for their hopes to nail a place in the Scotland squad long term.
Ford has been playing very well for Edinburgh so far this season/end of last season. Can only assume club form is taking priority over international history.
Hamilton was a liability last year with a vast penalty count. Leaving out both Barclay and Brown (I can understand one or the other) is a big call though.
Pyros should certainly get a shot if he continues to play like he did against Bath. He was excellent
The imbalance between Glasgow and Edinburgh could be a problem for Glasgow , no other pro team is going to give up 17 players to international duty.
indeed, but if you look at the remaining squad (minus academy players, long term injuries and any out on loan), we still have squad of 27. There are 4 non-scots internationalists that will probably be playing at some point during the window.
Of that 23, 13 are still full Scotland internationals (and one irish international that probably won’t be called up)!
that said, I would doubt that all 17 Glasgow players would be picked for the Tonga game (the only one that clashes with a Pro12 fixture), so we could get a few back.