With Jamie Ritchie’s absence from the Scotland team to face France on Saturday enforced by injury, perhaps the most noteworthy selection call is at hooker where Ewan Ashman starts with Dave Cherry on the bench, while George Turner – first choice during the Six Nations – is not involved at all.
Of course, this is a warm-up match, so we shouldn’t read too much into it – but in all other positions it looks very much like the side head coach Gregor Townsend would like to see face South Africa on 10th September in the opening round of the World Cup.
“Ewan’s getting an opportunity with a very strong team alongside him and I feel he has the attributes to start for us and certainly be in the World Cup squad,” said Townsend, keeping his cards close to his chest.
“He was involved in the last game of the Six Nations against Italy, and he has played in some big games, with his first game against Australia and then in the third Test in Argentina he was outstanding.
“In the last two months of last season we saw him in his best form for Sale. He had some niggles prior to the Six Nations but he got over them and was really imposing himself in defence and at scrum time and also getting on the ball. He’s one of our quickest and most powerful carriers.”
Only two other players in the training squad – apart from Ritchie – will not get a hit-out in either of Scotland’s first two World Cup warm-up matches.
Adam Hastings is fit again after picking up a leg injury at the end of last season, but Townsend said he doesn’t think the stand-off is ready to play a Test match, which leaves the 26-year-old short on time to stake his claim for selection for the 33-strong World Cup squad which will be announced the week after Scotland’s third warm-up match away to France on 12th August.
Meanwhile, Kyle Rowe was a late call-up to the training squad for Ruaridh McConnochie having missed all of last season with a knee injury sustained on his Scotland debut last summer.
“They are both available to play, [but] are they ready to go straight into a Test match? We believe, this weekend, the answer is 'no',” said Townsend. “We will see what transpires next week as well.”
