Nathan Hines, one of the few Scots to emerge from Sunday’s capitulation to France with his reputation intact, was the latest injury worry as the team gathered yesterday for their first training session since the Murrayfield debacle. Officials said, however, that they do not expect the problem to prove serious as they prepare for Saturday’s encounter with Wales in Cardiff.
However, the calf muscle that he pulled at headquarters hurt enough for him to sit out training and there was a further blow when it was confirmed that Simon Taylor, the Paris-based No 8, would not join up with the team this week. He is recovering from torn ligaments in a hand and even if he had been able to travel, it is doubtful that he would have been sufficiently match-fit to play at the weekend.
Assuming that Hines does make the recovery predicted, the Scots would go into the game needing to replace Rory Lamont, the full back, who has shoulder and ankle injuries, but any other changes in the team due to be announced today will be a reflection of performance and not injuries.
To give themselves more options, the coaches added nine players to the group used against France, but few are likely to make the starting XV.
Hugo Southwell and Chris Paterson are the squad cover for Lamont – both were on the bench last week – leaving space among the replacements that one of the five additions to the squad will have to fill. Simon Danielli and Phil Godman are the leading candidates, but Ben Cairns’s flexibility could earn him a surprise promotion.
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In the forwards, Alasdair Strokosch was the highest-profile addition but would have to overtake Allister Hogg, who was 23rd man on Sunday, to win selection. Scott Murray again missed out on an invitation to travel from Montauban to train with the team, though the decision to call in Craig Hamilton, the Edinburgh lock, may be more a question of geography and convenience than another snub for Scotland’s most capped player.
At a level down, the club international side to face their Welsh counterparts in Caerphilly on Friday was named yesterday and will feature six new caps, including both half backs, with Richard Snedden, of Currie, and Andrew Skeen, of Watsonians, winning the battle for the starting spots.
Tam McVie, the Heriot’s back row, continues his run as captain and there is also a new sponsor on board as Bellhaven Brewery linked up with the side. It is the second time in a fortnight that the company has become involved with the Scottish Rugby Union, having also helped to celebrate the first Six Nations encounter in which alcohol has been allowed inside Murrayfield by becoming the official beer of the union.
Scotland Club International (v Wales, Caerphilly, Friday): S Ruddick (Boroughmuir); M Teague (Heriot’s), G Thomson (Dundee HSFP), J Murray (Melrose), R Couper (Boroughmuir); A Skeen (Watsonians), R Snedden (Currie); B McNeil (Heriot’s), S Crombie (Boroughmuir), J Welsh (GHA), D Kelly (Ayr), A Adam (Currie), T McVie (Heriot’s, captain), R Weston (Currie), A Martyn (Boroughmuir). Replacements: P MacArthur (Ayr), G Mountford (Stirling County), G Dodds (Melrose), G Oommen (Dundee HSFP), G Cottrell (Boroughmuir), C Goudie (Heriot’s), D Brown (Watsonians).