Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Uncapped trio get Scotland call

Alex Grove, Richie Vernon and Alan MacDonald
Grove, Vernon and MacDonald impressed for Scotland A in Romania

Worcester's Alex Grove, Edinburgh's Alan MacDonald and Glasgow Warriors' Richie Vernon have been named in the Scotland squad for the first time.

The uncapped players are included in Andy Robinson's 32-man squad - his first in charge - for next month's autumn international against Fiji.

Robinson was impressed by the trio, who were part of the A team that won the IRB Nations Cup in Romania this summer.

"We've chosen the squad primarily on the basis of current form," he said.

"And there's a good balance of players with 10 each from Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors and 12 Exiles."

But there is no place in the squad for Glasgow kicking specialist Dan Parks, who had widely been tipped for a recall because of a lack of options at fly-half.

The competition in the back-row is intense with Roddy Grant also knocking on the door

Scotland coach Andy Robinson

Robinson cited Parks, along with Northampton Saints' Scott Gray and Edinburgh's Allister Hogg, as players whose form is being monitored closely for possible inclusion in future Tests.

The coach praised Edinburgh flanker MacDonald, whose call-up coincided with his 24th birthday, for his consistency and hailed 22-year-old Vernon as an exciting talent.

"Both have done well this season where, once again, the competition in the back-row is intense, with Roddy Grant also knocking on the door," he said, explaining their inclusion along with centre Grove.

Robinson noted that prop Kyle Traynor and centre John Houston had, like Grant, raised their game with Edinburgh and were very much in the Scotland coaches' thoughts despite missing out on this occasion.

The Scotland squad will gather for a three-day camp at St Andrews on Monday 2 November then reconvene at Murrayfield the following Sunday ahead of the Fiji match at the national stadium on Saturday 14 November.

Robinson said that other players could yet force their way into contention for the remaining games in the Autumn Tests - against Australia on 21 November and Argentina on 28 November.

Two Glasgow players who are returning from injury, centre Max Evans and lock Richie Gray, will join the Scotland squad for their camp at St Andrews as part of their recovery programme.

Scotland squad: John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Cairns (Edinburgh), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh), Scott MacLeod (Edinburgh), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Nikki Walker (Ospreys), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne).

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