RYAN Wilson, the Glasgow forward, is set to get his first Six Nations Championship involvement of the year against Italy on Saturday - but several of his Warriors team-mates will miss out on the match after being released to play for their club by Vern Cotter, the Scotland coach.
Wilson is expected to come into the squad, to be announced today, in place of Blair Cowan, who was concussed in the game against Wales. Cotter must decide whether to start the game in Rome with Wilson on the bench, or give him the No 6 jersey in place of John Barclay.
Josh Strauss had been called up by Scotland, but he has missed out to Wilson and will captain Glasgow in tonight’s PRO12 game against Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales. Rob Harley has also been allowed to return to the Warriors after training with the national squad over the past fortnight, and he too will play from the start in the league match this evening.
Duncan Weir, a second-half substitute for Scotland in Cardiff, has been named at stand-off by Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend for the game at Rodney Parade. Weir’s place on the bench against Italy could go to his Glasgow team-mate Peter Horne, who has been retained by Cotter.
Gordon Reid and Zander Fagerson, Scotland’s replacement props in their previous two games, are on the bench for the Warriors. That should mean a call-up to the Scotland squad for Rory Sutherland, the Edinburgh loosehead, and Moray Low, the Exeter Chiefs tighthead. The other forwards replacements should be Edinburgh hooker Stuart McInally, Glasgow lock Tim Swinson, and either Wilson or Barclay.
“Delighted from our point of view, obviously disappointed for them,” Townsend said yesterday when asked about his returning players. “I think for Zander and Gordon and Duncan, who have been in the squad, to not be in the squad is disappointing for them.
“Josh, who played really well at the weekend, would have been in the mix, but it shows the competition level in Scotland in those positions. Ryan has been playing really well and been one of our best players over January, so he’s earned that right to be in the mix.”
Grayson Hart is also back with Glasgow, meaning Sam Hidalgo-Clyne will continue as Greig Laidlaw’s back-up scrum-half. Cotter could then choose to start with Tim Visser on one wing and have Sean Lamont on the bench to cover both centre and wing. The other backs replacement would then be either Horne or Ruaridh Jackson.
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