Scotland Squad for AIs Announced

[TRF_Olyy]

Scotland squad:

Backs: Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Ben Cairns (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Grove (Edinburgh), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais), James Thompson (Edinburgh), Nikki Walker (Ospreys).




Forwards: John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh), Scott MacLeod (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) and Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors).





Four uncapped in:
Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow)

Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh)

Jim Thompson (Edinburgh)

Joe Ansbro (Northampton)



I'll admit i've never heard of Jim Thompson, but Jackson and Laidlaw impressed me a lot over the weekend/in the HEC in general so far, and Ansbro is quality at NH.

 

[Duckdee]

I'll admit i've never heard of Jim Thompson, but Jackson and Laidlaw impressed me a lot over the weekend/in the HEC in general so far, and Ansbro is quality at NH.

[strike]You'll get the positions right one day.[/strike] That means Northampton, doesn't it?

I see a Killer B is missing, injured?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

[strike]You'll get the positions right one day.[/strike] That means Northampton, doesn't it?

Oh ye of little faith! I get it right some times

After a quick search on google news Johnnie Beattie is out injured, along with Chris Cusiter and Alastair Kellock
Three top notch players missing right there, hopefully it won't harm Scotland too much

 

[Teh Mite]

Scotland coach believes he's found another Guscott


Joe Ansbro's chance of becoming the first black player in living memory to represent Scotland were hugely increased yesterday as the national team's head coach compared the 24-year-old favourably with the finest black back that British rugby has produced.
The Northampton Saints utility back was the most surprising selection among the four uncapped players, along with Ruaridh Jackson, the Glasgow Warriors playmaker and Edinburgh pair Greig Laidlaw and Jim Thompson, named in the 34-man squad for next month's meeting with New Zealand.
Ansbro has not featured in the international set-up since his involvement with the Scotland A squad which won the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in June 2009, and then his involvement was limited by injury.
However, Robinson has kept tabs on him and could not have made his admiration more evident than when comparing him with Jeremy Guscott, his former Bath, England and British & Irish Lions team-mate.
"I've added Joe Ansbro in there because he has that touch of pace we need," said the Scotland coach. "He's slightly different to Max [Evans] as a runner. He's more a player who will pick an angle and go and attack.
"For me, a player that I played with that he's a little bit similar to is Jeremy Guscott. That's what impressed me the last time I worked with him and that's what I've been seeing in his performances."
Robinson did admit that Simon Danielli's unavailability because of an injury suffered last weekend, had been a factor in Ansbro's call-up, while the partnership being forged by Evans with Graeme Morrison makes them the likely midfield pairing.
Furthermore, Ansbro has not been starting games for Northampton, but Robinson seemed to suggest that may be a factor in his favour, since he has become used to appearing as an impact replacement.
"We've got to look at our tactics and also the form of the player," said Robinson. "Joe has been coming off the bench and playing for 15-20 minutes consistently well this year, and what we like about him is his ability to defend very physically, to make very good decisions either as a centre or as a winger and he's got tremendous pace and balance as a runner.
"He hasn't had too many 80-minute matches, but he's played in some pressure situations for Northampton. We need a player of his quality and potential in the team."
With only two specialist stand-offs in the squad, Ruaridh Jackson seems almost certain to make his Test debut with Robinson praising his form for Glasgow, and the 22-year-old revealed that he would have extra motivation if he is up against the All Blacks.
"If I did get my debut against New Zealand, it would be a great one to start against because you're not really going to top that, and I've got huge respect for Dan Carter," he said.
"I've always grown up supporting Australia, because my sister Katie was born there and lived there for a few years."
Of the other potential debutants, Greig Laidlaw is clearly unlikely to feature unless there is an injury to either Mike Blair or Rory Lawson, both of whom were included by Robinson among his five contenders for the captaincy, along with John Barclay, Kelly Brown and Ross Ford, while Jim Thompson, who was in the match 22 for the first Test in Argentina in June, may also struggle to get past vastly experienced rivals at wing and full-back.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport...believes-he-s-found-another-guscott-1.1062854


I never realised being black was still an issue. Does this mean if he does well the Jocks will start singing Swing Low also?


One other point to the author:

the national team's head coach compared the 24-year-old favourably with the finest black back that British rugby has produced.

Jason Robinson may have a thing or 2 to say about that.

 

[cyRil]

And Aled Brew...

 

[Teh Mite]

No, no cyRil, we're talking about fine players. Not over-rated!

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

So Nikki Walker plays well just before the Six Nations last season and does get in, but plays badly this season thus far and does get in? It's a strange, strange world.

Glad to see Jim Thompson in. (He's Bill McLaran's grandson)

 

[Finerz]

I think Johnnie Beattie will be missed.