RYAN Wilson, in a Scotland team for the first time since completing a six-month suspension from international duty, has been praised for his “exceptional character” by Vern Cotter. The Glasgow Warriors forward, who starts at No 6 against Italy tomorrow, was banned after being convicted of assault, but the head coach said the player and the squad had put that incident behind them.
“That was outside what we’ve been doing,” Cotter said. “It hasn’t even been mentioned. We’ve been looking at his rugby and what he’s bringing to the team with his character. It has been exceptional. We’ve just got on with the job and he has been very good.
“We want to look at him playing for us. He’s been waiting for this opportunity. I think he’s the fastest forward we have.”
Mark Bennett will complete his return from shoulder surgery when he lines up as part of a team that shows 14 changes from the one that began last weekend’s 16-12 win over the Italians in Turin. The others who make their first appearances of the Rugby World Cup warm-up programme are Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray.
Sean Lamont is the only player in the 15 who started the 16-12 win over the Italians in Turin last weekend, having been drafted into the squad in place of Tommy Seymour, who continues to get treatment on a back strain. Bennett’s comeback means that, in addition to Seymour, Alex Dunbar and Sean Maitland are the only squad members on the injury list. The only others who have yet to play are Josh Strauss, who is still ineligible, and Chris Cusiter, who will only be called up for the World Cup if one of the other three scrum-halves is injured.
“It's a three-week turnaround on a tweaked back,” Vern Cotter, the head coach, said of Seymour. “Sean is another one we could have played this week, but the medical staff felt that he would be better off for a full week of putting strength into his shoulder. He's been fully training and we'd like to think he'll be available for next week.
“Alex Dunbar is seeing the specialist today. The specialist in London will be giving his opinion and then we'll be talking to our boys on the ground who are working with him every day.”
Ross Ford, who will form part of an all-Edinburgh front row in his 88th Test, will overtake Scott Murray as Scotland’s most-capped forward. Ruaridh Jackson has been brought into the matchday squad as part of the reshuffle following Seymour’s withdrawal.
Scotland (v Italy at Murrayfield, Saturday 3.15pm): S Hogg; S Lamont, M Bennett, P Horne (all Glasgow), T Visser (Newcastle); F Russell (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Gloucester); A Dickinson, R Ford, W Nel, G Gilchrist (all Edinburgh), J Gray, R Wilson (both Glasgow), J Barclay (Scarlets), D Denton (Edinburgh). Substitutes: S McInally (Edinburgh), G Reid (Glasgow), J Welsh (Newcastle), R Harley (Glasgow), B Cowan (London Irish), H Pyrgos (Glasgow), R Jackson (Wasps), M Scott (Edinburgh).
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