Scott Murray's chances of becoming the first Scot to reach 100 caps receded yesterday when he was omitted from the 35-man training squad for the Six Nations. The 31-year-old Montauban secondrow, who led his country against New Zealand last September, is one of three World Cup players who have been dropped from a selection that includes six uncapped players.
The prop Craig Smith and the hooker Scott Lawson also miss out, and the centre Marcus Di Rollo has asked for a season out of international rugby after joining Toulouse. Andrew Henderson, Simon Taylor and Rob Dewey were not considered because of injury.
"I am impressed by the competition we have for places in the squad," said coach Frank Hadden. "A number of players have maintained their good form since the World Cup, but they are going to be pushed extremely hard over the next couple of weeks by the emerging talent we have."
The Sale flanker Jason White, who missed last season's Six Nations because of injury, will lead a side which has a core of experience despite the omission of Murray, who is 32 next week. Leicester's James Hamilton and Perpignan's Nathan Hines are the likely secondrow pair. The scrumhalf position will be keenly contested with Gloucester's Rory Lawson, who is up against Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair, enjoying an outstanding season.
France will not name their squad until January 22nd with their new coach, Marc Lievremont, making his priority the choice of captain. The Wasps' hooker Raphael Ibanez led France during the World Cup, but he is likely to be replaced by either Julien Bonnaire or Yannick Jauzion. "The selectors have spoken about the position, but no announcement will be made until we have first notified the person involved and then the president of the French Rugby Federation," said Lievremont. Stade Francais wing Christophe Dominici has retired from international rugby after winning 65 caps.
SCOTLAND (Six Nations squad)
Backs:Blair, Cairns (both Edinburgh), Cusiter (Perpignan), Danielli (Ulster), De Luca (Edinburgh), Evans (Glasgow), Godman (Edinburgh), R Lamont (Sale), Lawson (Gloucester), MacRae (Edinburgh), Morrison, Parks (both Glasgow), Paterson (Gloucester), Southwell (Edinburgh), Walker (Ospreys), Webster (Edinburgh).
Forwards:Barclay, Beattie, Brown (all Glasgow), Callam (Edinburgh), Dickinson (Gloucester), Ford (Edinburgh), Hamilton (Leicester), Hines (Perpignan), Hogg, Jacobsen (both Edinburgh), Kellock (Glasgow), Kerr (Edinburgh), Low (Glasgow), MacLeod (Llanelli), E Murray (Northampton), Rennie (Edinburgh), Strokosch (Gloucester), Thomson (Glasgow), White (Sale, capt).
Guardian Service
