VERN COTTER has defended his inclusion of so-called 'project players' in his Scotland squad for the Rugby World Cup, insisting that eligibility and the desire to represent the country were the only criteria he thought relevant.

The Glasgow back-row player Josh Strauss and the Edinburgh prop WP Nel, both born in South Africa, are about to become eligible on grounds of residence, while another Warriors forward, Doncaster-born prop Mike Cusack, already qualifies, having been based here for more than three years.

That trio were among the eight uncapped players named yesterday in Cotter's extended squad of 46 for the summer training camp and the first three World Cup warm-up games in August - against Ireland in Dublin then against Italy in Turin and Murrayfield. The squad will then be cut to its final size of 31 before the last warm-up match, against France in Paris in early September.

Strauss, who captained Glasgow to their PRO12 final victory in Belfast last Saturday, is a strong contender for a starting berth in the team at the World Cup, even though he does not become available until shortly before the first pool game. Nel is also firmly in the running, although Cusack is further down the front-row pecking order.

However, no matter if a player is seen as an automatic choice or deemed unlikely to make the cut, Cotter believes the argument remains the same. If the laws say they can play for Scotland, and if they want to play for Scotland, they should be judged on their merits.

"I look at it from a rugby point of view," the head coach said yesterday. "He [Strauss] is a very talented player and he adds value to this team. He has been very influential with Glasgow.

"He has a massive desire to play for Scotland. Although he had had a couple of beers when we let him know he would be involved, it's really meant something to him.

"WP's children were born here in Scotland. Those guys are playing here; they live here. I have no problems with those players fitting in, because there is such a strong culture in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The culture of this country is impressive and they are already affected by it.

"That's how I see it. I don't see it in any political form whatsoever. All I see is players who want to pull the jersey on and do their best for the country where they live."

With only three hookers named in the squad, Edinburgh's Stuart McInally is another uncapped player who could come into contention. The four others who have yet to turn out for their country - Hugh Blake and Rory Hughes of Glasgow, and Allan Dell and Damien Hoyland of Edinburgh - have an altogether slimmer chance, and in fact only played once each in last season's PRO12.

None the less, Cotter thinks that all of them offer enough to be given the chance to stake a claim in the smaller squad. "They're players who have shown promise," he said. "We think they have potential and we want to have a look at them. We have four pre-season games to get through; three of them before we name the 31.

"I think Damien Hoyland has played well on the sevens circuit. He has shown some interesting skills in his one-on-ones and his finishing ability. I'd like to put him into an intensive camp and see how he performs.

"Allan Dell has been injured, but we felt that having a look at him will then enable us perhaps to play Alasdair Dickinson at tighthead if we needed to.

"[Blake] is a player who can play six and seven. We want to have a good look at him. He has been working hard so he gets his opportunity.

"Hughes impressed me playing for Glasgow/Edinburgh against the under-20s. I thought he played well there only a month ago."

While those uncapped players will be given a chance to impress at international level, Cotter insisted that the more experienced players who have been left out at present could still fight their way back into contention between now and 2nd September when the squad is finalised. Prominent among them is No.8 Johnnie Beattie.

"I spoke with him," the coach said. "He, Roddy Grant, Dougie Fife and Kelly Brown were all players who were close. 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're starting." Geoff Cross is another player who could yet make a comeback.

No captain has been nominated in the current squad, and Cotter explained he might opt to share the captaincy between two players. Greig Laidlaw led the team during the Six Nations, while Grant Gilchrist was named as skipper for last year's Autumn Tests only to be injured before them. The final squad is likely to be made up of 18 forwards and 13 backs.