Vern Cotter today announced the first Scotland squad for the 2016 RBS Six Nations, and it was largely a mix of the tried and tested from the World Cup with a few extras rewarded on form, in particular young props Rory Sutherland (23) and Zander Fagerson (who turns just 20 tomorrow), and returnees Moray Low, John Barclay and in form Saracens man Duncan Taylor.
Ruaridh Jackson is included as full-back cover here and also returns on form, and his versatility might see him get the nod ahead of Duncan Weir – Jackson was injured during the World Cup – on occasions where Cotter feels the pack needs more heft on the bench.
Tim Swinson is included despite his recent citing, while Ryan Wilson is not.
Forwards: Ross Ford, Pat MacArthur, Stuart McInally, Al Dickinson, Zander Fagerson, Moray Low, WP Nel, Gordon Reid, Rory Sutherland, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, Ben Toolis, Adam Ashe, John Barclay, Blair Cowan, David Denton, Chris Fusaro, John Hardie, Josh Strauss
Backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Pete Horne, Matt Scott, Duncan Taylor, Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson
Grant Gilchrist (groin) and Henry Pyrgos (wrist) will train with the squad in camp while Fraser Brown, Jon Welsh and Richie Vernon were leftovers from the previous squad missing due to injury. There are injuries within the squad too (Bennett, Horne, Seymour and Visser), with Cotter saying: “There’s half a dozen players in the squad that, if the game was this week, they wouldn’t make the squad.”