Rugby:Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has named four uncapped players in his squad for the autumn Test series. Glasgow stand-off Ruaridh Jackson, Edinburgh pair Greig Laidlaw and Jim Thompson, and Northampton back Joe Ansbro are in Robinson's 34-man group.
Gloucester scrumhalf Rory Lawson has been selected as he prepares to return from a hand injury. Alastair Kellock has been ruled out of the clash against the All Blacks at
Murrayfield on November 13th with a knee injury, but he may return to the fold before the series finishes, when Samoa visit Pittodrie on November 27th.
Robinson has also not ruled out bringing other players in after the New Zealand contest. Along with the four uncapped players, Ross Rennie is looking to kick-start his international career after recovering from knee problems to make the squad.
The Edinburgh flanker is excited about the prospect of adding to the cap he won when coming on against Ireland in 2008. The 24-year-old said: “I’ve been really enjoying my rugby this season and just want to keep working hard at my game.
“There are a number of huge fixtures coming up for both Edinburgh and the national team, and, like any player, I’d love to be involved. The guys did brilliantly to win in Argentina in the summer, so they’ll come into the Autumn tests with plenty of confidence and keen to give the fans another few results to remember.”
Jackson has been playing regularly for Glasgow since Dan Parks left for Cardiff and is relishing the challenge of competing against his former team-mate and Chris Paterson for the number 10 jersey.
He said: “I’m really happy and excited to be involved and I can’t wait for the start of the training camp. Obviously you want to be playing in the games, but there’s great competition with Dan and Mossy. I just need to try my best and we’ll see what happens from there.”
As well as Kellock, Chris Cusiter, Johnnie Beattie, Nick de Luca, Phil Godman and Simon Danielli are unavailable through injury. With Cusiter out, Robinson will name his captain closer to the match against the All Blacks.
Scotland face New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa next month.
Scotland squad:J Ansbro (Northampton), M Blair (Edinburgh), B Cairns (Edinburgh), M Evans (Glasgow), A Grove (Edinburgh), R Jackson (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Edinburgh), R Lamont (Toulon), S Lamont (Scarlets), R Lawson (Gloucester), G Morrison (Glasgow), D Parks (Cardiff), C Paterson (Edinburgh), H Southwell (Stade Francais), J Thompson (Edinburgh), N Walker (Ospreys); J Barclay (Glasgow), K Brown (Saracens), G Cross (Edinburgh), A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Ford (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow), D Hall (Glasgow), J Hamilton (Gloucester), N Hines (Leinster), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), S Lawson (Gloucester), M Low (Glasgow), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), S MacLeod (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), R Rennie (Edinburgh), A Strokosch (Gloucester), R Vernon (Glasgow).