Horne forced to play waiting game ahead of Twickenham opener

Rugby reporter

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Peter Horne's prospects of making his international debut against England at Twickenham on Saturday appeared to be hanging in the balance last night as the 23-year-old Glasgow Warriors centre battled to recover from a hand injury suffered in training last week, writes Alasdair Reid.

Peter Horne suffered a hand injury in training last week

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Alasdair Reid

Herald Sport understands that the Scotland interim head coach Scott Johnson has given the nod to Horne, who scored a wonder try for the Warriors against Northampton 10 days ago, but that the final decision on the player's readiness will be made by the team's medical staff.

Should Horne fail to satisfy them of his fitness, the inside-centre berth will be retained by Edinburgh's Matt Scott, who has occupied the position in Scotland's last six international matches. Sources suggest that the rest of the backline will form up along anticipated lines, with Sean Maitland, the former Crusaders star, making his Scotland debut on the right wing just two months after setting foot in the country for the first time. Maitland's eligibility is derived from his paternal grandparents, who emigrated to New Zealand almost half a century ago.The indications are that Johnson has stuck to his plan of fielding a combination of Herald Sport understands that the Scotland interim head coach Scott Johnson has given the nod to Horne, who scored a wonder try for the Warriors against Northampton 10 days ago, but that the final decision on the player's readiness will be made by the team's medical staff.Should Horne fail to satisfy them of his fitness, the inside-centre berth will be retained by Edinburgh's Matt Scott, who has occupied the position in Scotland's last six international matches. Sources suggest that the rest of the backline will form up along anticipated lines, with Sean Maitland, the former Crusaders star, making his Scotland debut on the right wing just two months after setting foot in the country for the first time. Maitland's eligibility is derived from his paternal grandparents, who emigrated to New Zealand almost half a century ago.The indications are that Johnson has stuck to his plan of fielding a combination of Greig Laidlaw at scrum-half with Ruaridh Jackson at fly-half. Henry Pyrgos will cover the No.9 position from the bench, but there is no specialist cover for the playmaker role, so either Laidlaw or Horne/Scott would have to slot in there if required.In the pack, the major shock on the cards is the omission from the hooker's role of Ross Ford, last year's Six Nations captain and a Lions Test player in South Africa in 2009. Ford appears to have paid the price for a series of poor performances, both in the autumn Tests for Scotland and club matches for Edinburgh. Glasgow's Dougie Hall is set to be the beneficiary.It is also understood that Gloucester lock Jim Hamilton has been given the nod ahead of Glasgow's Al Kellock in the second row. With the versatile Kelly Brown confirmed as captain, a number of back-row permutations are possible, but the most likely line-up would put Brown alongside the rejuvenated Johnnie Beattie and Al Strokosch of Perpignan.

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Horne forced to play waiting game ahead of Twickenham opener

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