SOMETIMES the announcement of a squad for a major tournament can be almost as dramatic as the matches themselves. There is a knack to keeping schtum as the minutes tick down to tournament deadline, then springing an almighty rabbit from the hat and leaving a national treasure or two licking their wounds with one brutally matter-of-fact press release.

In his own taciturn, undemonstrative way Vern Cotter proved himself a master of that art yesterday. News of the Kiwi’s 31-man Scotland squad for next month’s Rugby World Cup had actually leaked out overnight but as he addressed the media yesterday, Tim Swinson gave the impression that he could still hardly believe the news that he had made the final cut. The London-born 28-year-old, after all, had already been axed from the extended 46-man training group once already.

That was back in June, as he left the training group to seek further treatment on his injured ankle. He consequently played no part in any of the three build-up matches to date, culminating in that whopping victory against Italy last weekend. While Cotter had vowed to keep track of the Glasgow Warrior’s progress, when he returned from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Sunday after playing a part in his club side’s 19-12 defeat to Canada, a jet-lagged Swinson could only assume that the missed call from the New Zealander on his mobile phone was the Kiwi doing him the courtesy of thanking him for his time and wishing him all the best for the future. Instead, the call-up came from left field, the lock forward invited to the biggest party in world rugby while his Warriors team-mate Rob Harley was unceremoniously dumped.

Injuries in this attritional event could yet present unforeseen opportunities, but others with their noses pressed against the glass for now include back rows Blair Cowan and John Barclay, not to mention centre Alex Dunbar, who has not fully recovered from his cruciate knee ligament injury.

“I really had no idea,” said Swinson, who has 12 caps for his country. “On Sunday morning I missed a call from Vern and I was a bit confused - especially after having not slept for just over a day with the travel and the game. I wondered if he was just phoning everyone who had been in the original 46 just to say thankyou for helping out and everything.

“It was only when I spoke to him on the Sunday that he gave me the news,” the lock forward added. “I was really shocked. I didn't know how to react because it was something which wasn't even on my radar. It is a huge honour for me and I am so excited.”

Having already come to terms with being omitted for the squad, Swinson could hardly fail to sympathise with those who did finally fail to make the cut. Not least of those, of course, was his clubmate Harley, one of a five-strong Glasgow contingent from the original 46-man group which didn’t make it.

“I certainly feel for them,” said Swinson. “Having gone through believing I wasn't going to make it because of my injury, I know it isn't nice. It is quite a tough time for those guys and hopefully I can support them as much as they have supported me so far.

“I spoke to Rob on Monday and he was hugely supportive,” he added. “It takes a big man to say what he said. It was fantastic support from a good friend.

“This is one of the reasons why I am thankful I am not the coach. He [Cotter] has to make some tough decisions, hopefully we can show why he made those decisions and prove that they were the right decisions.”

He won’t just be playing to repay the confidence of Cotter, though. “It is not just Vern,” said Swinson. “It is the guys in the squad, Greig [Laidlaw, the captin], right down to the boys who unfortunately didn't make the 31. I want to do my best in a Scotland shirt for everyone I have played with and played for.”

All the frustrations of those long months on the sidelines came out in a fine performance against Canada, but what happens now is anyone’s guess. Part of Swinson’s attractiveness for Cotter comes down to his versatility and possibilities to plug in at No 6, with Grant Gilchrist and the Gray brothers also in the mix for the lock forward roles. One thing is for sure: with Cotter around no-one will be getting in a comfort zone any time soon.

“I had a tough couple of weeks because I thought it was all over,” said Swinson. “But then I got on with it and realised I had been in worse situations and it really wasn't that bad. I tried to do a lot of things in the Canada game that I am good at. And just enjoy things. It must have shone through in the performance I gave and hopefully it can shine through to a Scotland shirt.

“I don't really see it as a pecking order now, I see it as good competition between four very good players,” said Swinson. “We can train as hard as we can and leave it up to the coach to decide who he wants to play. I don't know what Vern is thinking ... not many people do.”