Stuart McInally to captain Scotland but no place for Huw Jones

There is no place for Rory Hutchinson and centres Huw Jones, although stuart McInally will Stunt Scotland at the Rugby World Cup.

McInally has been chosen ahead of John Barclay and former captains Greig Laidlaw to lead the team out because of their opener with Ireland at Yokohama on September 22.
Nevertheless, the decision to leave both Glasgow middle Jones and his midfield rival kind Northampton Hutchinson out of the squad of head trainer Gregor Townsend is surrounded by the news.
Jones burst onto the Test scene with nine tries in his first 14 appearances for the Lady but in the 18 months since he scored a double from the 2018 Calcutta Cup triumph over England, his form for club and country has dropped considerably.
His deficiencies in defence have also counted him from contention, even though a deficiency of expertise seems to have contributed to the decision to leave Hutchinson behind despite the 23-year-old making a late bid for choice with a brace on his first Scotland start during Saturday’s win in Georgia.
With Sam Johnson and fit-again Saracens center Duncan Taylor Townsend has opted to shoot Peter Horne – who may also fill in at 10 – along with also Chris Harris as cover.
Adam Hastings has been given the nod to celebrity guy Finn Russell at stand-off even though his ropy revealing in Nice against France three months ago.
But the price has been reduced by prop Jamie Bhatti because of his failure to impress throughout the mauling imposed upon his side in the Allianz Riviera, with Townsend deciding to take looseheads Allan Dell along with Gordon Reid and also Willem Nel and Zander Fagerson’s tighthead pair.
Simon Berghan gets a seat on the plane based on his ability to pay both sides of the scrum.
Forwards Josh Strauss, Matt Fagerson and Magnus Bradbury miss out No 8 Blade Thomson selected if necessary on the basis he can also slot into the second row.
Lock Bradbury has not featured in any way during the Scots’ three warm-up clashes thus far due to a rib injury as well as also his lack of action has cost him his own position, though fellow second-rower Jonny Gray and hooker Fraser Brown have made the cut despite being also walked out that the double header with France and last weekend’s Tbilisi victory through trauma.
New skipper McInally, speaking as he along with the rest of the squad were introduced in Linlithgow Palace, stated:”It’s a really proud moment. I wound up missing the World Cup through injury so this makes it all the sweeter.
“The focus is on Georgia that Friday and placing in a fantastic performance before we head away.
“I’m really fortunate that there is a number of players either side of me that have captained the team before so I won’t be brief in that regard.
“We’re going to take each match that comes and try and win all of them. If we are able to get out of the group, it’s knock-out rugby then.”
Forwards: John Barclay (Edinburgh), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Dell (London Irish), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart McInally (capt) (Edinburgh), WP Nel (Edinburgh), Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Blade Thomson (Scarlets), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).
Backs: Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Chris Harris (Gloucester), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens).