Barclay's Back In What Looks Like A First-Pick Team

Scotland team to play Italy at BT Murrayfield this Saturday (29 August, kick-off 3.15pm):

 

15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne (all Glasgow Warriors), 11 Tim Visser (Harlequins); 10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), 9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester); 1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Willem Nel;  4 Grant Gilchrist (all Edinburgh Rugby), 5 Jonny Gray; 6 Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors), 7 John Barclay (Scarlets), 8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby). – 26 caps.

Substitutes: 16 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby), 17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), 18 Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), 19 Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), 20 Blair Cowan (London Irish); 21 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), 22 Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps), 23 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby).

 

That's the team then - and, all being well, I don't think our team to face Japan in the World Cup opener, at Kingsholm, Gloucester, on Wednesday, 23 September, will be much different.

 

I can see a fit Tommy Seymour, who has had to drop out of the team for Saturday after suffering a back strain, filling one of the wing slots at Kingsholm, with Tim Visser perhaps under the greater pressure to get a start in the World Cup opener.

 

The continuing absence of Sean Maitland and Alex Dunbar from the match-day squads is beginning to be a worry. Time is running out for the pair of them.

 

I am pleased to see Rob Harley in the match-day squad. His ability to cover all of the back five positions in the pack will be critical during the tournament. He and Blair Cowan look like being the two versatile forwards - always remembering, if we hit injury trouble, the two back-up hookers, Stuart McInally, who is on the bench on Saturday and Fraser Brown have both shown they can do a job in the back row if required.

 

Saturday's Murrayfield clash will be slightly different from the first game with Italy, in Turin, last Saturday. For a start, the wonderful Paressie seems likely to be back to inspire the Azzurri. Any Scottish plus points from Turin came in the confirmation of how good our defensive systems are. Now, with Mark Bennett back, in concert in the centre with Peter Horne - we will be hoping to see Scotland more on the front foot and able to give our back three scoring opportunities, which Hoggie, big Sean and Tim Visser are all capable of taking.

 

Perhaps no Scottish player is under greater pressure on Saturday than John Barclay. At his best, he remains our best open-side - he really needs to demonstrate this on Saturday, to clinch the jersey for the tournament. If he can bring his Scarlets form to the game, it will be good for Scotland.