SCOTLAND APPEARED TO have fewer high-profile World Cup selection dilemmas than some of their more prominent European counterparts, but coach Andy Robinson still managed to spring a surprise when he named his 30-man squad today.
One of the stand-out players of last year’s Six Nations, Johnnie Beattie, will not be travelling to New Zealand. After missing most of this season through injury, the 25-year-old fell foul of severe competition in the back row.
The team will be captained by Beattie’s Glasgow Warriors teammate Ian Kellock and will include veteran scrum-halves Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair, as well as full-back Chris Paterson, who will be making his fourth World Cup appearance.
Scotland will play their first match of the tournament, against Romania, on 10 September.
Scotland’s World Cup Squad:
Backs: Joe Ansbro, Mike Blair, Chris Cusiter, Simon Danielli, Nick DeLuca, Max Evans, Ruaridh Jackson, Rory Lamont, Sean Lamont, Rory Lawson, Graeme Morrison, Dan Parks, Chris Paterson.
Forwards: John Barclay, Kelly Brown, Geoff Cross, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Richie Gray, Dougie Hall, Jim Hamilton, Nathan Hines, Allan Jacobsen, Alastair Kellock, Scott Lawson, Moray Low, Euan Murray, Ross Fennie, Alasdair Strokosch, Richie Vernon.
