Vern Cotter, the Scotland coach, has admitted that the identity of the player who leads the national side into next month's autumn Tests will be dictated by medical considerations as much as leadership qualities.
Cotter awarded the Scotland captaincy to Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist last week - only for the player to be ruled out of any involvement in the November internationals when he fractured an arm during his club's European Challenge Cup win over Lyon on Friday evening.
In Gilchrist's absence, scrum-halves Greig Laidlaw of Gloucester and Chris Cusiter of Sale, both of whom have captained Scotland before, seemed the likeliest candidates to take over the leadership role. It was widely assumed that whichever of the pair was chosen to play would also be appointed captain, but both are now carrying injuries that have thrown their prospects into doubt.
Cusiter suffred a calf strain that kept him out of his club's European Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne last Sunday and has not been able to take an active part in Scotland's training camp in Newcastle this week. Laidlaw did play for his side against Oyonnax in the Challenge Cup, but he picked up a knee knock that has restricted him to non-contact work.
"We will announce a captain next week for the [opening] game against Argentina," said Cotter. "Our medical staff have been really busy assessing what the players can and can't do. There have been discussions about how we are going to present ourselves on the paddock. Obviously, the captain will be there, but it will be announced next week."
With 18 Glasgow players now in his squad, Cotter made no secret of the fact that the Scotstoun side will be the dominant influence upon Scotland's approach as well.
Cotter said: "Glasgow have been attacking and defending very well and the predominant culture within this squad comes from there. They obviously bring a lot of what they do in their club to us, but we are looking at tweaking and developing certain things.
"Edinburgh have a slightly different system but their philosophy is very similar. Defence is important in winning games, and we are going to try and have a Scottish way as well." both are now carrying injuries that have thrown their prospects of featuring for the national side into doubt.
Cusiter suffered a calf strain which kept him out of his club's European Champions Cup meeting with Clermont Auvergne last Sunday and has not been able to take an active part in Scotland's training camp in Newcastle this week. Laidlaw did play for his side against Oyonnax in the Challenge Cup, but he sustained up a knee knock that has restricted him to non-contact work.
"We will announce a captain next week for the [opening] game against Argentina," said Cotter. "Our medical staff have been really busy assessing what the players can and can't do. There have been discussions about how we are going to present ourselves on the paddock. Obviously, the captain will be there, but it will be announced next week."
With 18 Glasgow Warriors players now in his squad, the Scotland coach made no secret of the fact that the Scotstoun side will be the dominant influence upon Scotland's approach as well.
"Glasgow have been attacking and defending very well and the predominant culture within this squad comes from there," the New Zealand-born coach added. "They obviously bring a lot of what they do in their club to us, but we are looking at tweaking and developing certain things.
"Edinburgh have a slightly different system but their philosophy is very similar. Defence is important in winning games and we are going to try and have a Scottish way as well."
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