Rugby:Scotland coach Andy Robinson has named seven uncapped players in his squad for the autumn Test with New Zealand.
The 34-man squad for the November 11th Test with the world champions and a training camp at St Andrews includes Edinburgh pair Stuart McInally and Grant Gilchrist as well as Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne, Peter Murchie, Tommy Seymour and Henry Pyrgos, all from Glasgow Warriors.
McInally and centre Dunbar were late call-ups to Scotland’s summer tour to Australia, Fiji and Samoa, but did not play. McInally’s back-row colleague David Denton and wing Lee Jones return after missing the tour through injury, with lock Jim Hamilton back after his suspension saw him miss the June trip.
Scrum-half Chris Cusiter was among 13 not considered for selection due to injury, with Mike Blair (Brive) and Rory Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) selected despite not playing top-division rugby. Pyrgos is also an option at number nine.
Edinburgh hooker Ross Ford captained the side during the RBS Six Nations and the summer, but that position could be under threat with Saracens back-row Kelly Brown fit again.
Scotland endured a miserable 2011-12 season, eliminated from the Rugby World Cup at the group stages and defeated in all five Six Nations matches to finish with the wooden spoon.
Robinson’s position was under scrutiny but Scotland responded with victories in Australia, Fiji and Samoa in June to end a seven-match winless run, their worst since 1998.
The squad will be considered once again after the All Blacks clash and ahead of the November 17th Test against South Africa and the clash with Tonga in Aberdeen a week later.
Robinson said: “It’s always an exciting time when the Scotland squad comes together ahead of the first Test match of the season.
“It’s some four months since Scotland last played an international so when the squad reconvenes there’ll be an element of renewing acquaintances and reigniting the spark and spirit that was such a key part of our success on our summer tour.
“New Zealand are formidable opponents. They do the basics exceptionally well and play with a pace and ruthlessness. It’s no coincidence that they are the best team in the world. We must look to build on the physical commitment of our players against Australia, Fiji and Samoa.”
Scotland squad for St Andrews training camp and EMC Autumn Test with New Zealand:M Blair (Brive), N De Luca (Edinburgh), A Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), M Evans (Castres), S Hogg, P Horne, R Jackson (all Glasgow Warriors), L Jones, G Laidlaw (both Edinburgh), S Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), R Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), P Murchie, H Pyrgos (both Glasgow Warriors), M Scott (Edinburgh), T Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) and T Visser (Edinburgh), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), K Brown (Saracens), G Cross, D Denton, R Ford, G Gilchrist (all Edinburgh), R Grant (Glasgow Warriors), R Gray (Sale Sharks), D Hall (Glasgow Warriors), J Hamilton (Gloucester), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), S Lawson (London Irish), S McInally, R Rennie (both Edinburgh), T Ryder (Glasgow Warriors), A Strokosch (Perpignan) and K Traynor (Bristol).
