Rugby Union: Scotland must wait for Weir

Doddie Weir has lost his race to be fit for Scotland's match against South Africa at Murrayfield on Saturday. The Newcastle second-row was hoping that a troublesome back problem would clear up in time to face the Springboks, but the Scotland coach, Ritchie Dixon, yesterday revealed that Weir will need up to another two weeks before he can contemplate a playing return.

His absence from a 26-man squad named yesterday was the main blow to the Scots as they seek to erase the memory of a drubbing at the hands of Australia nine days ago.

The former captain, Rob Wainwright, looks set to replace the unfortunate Adam Roxburgh - concussed against the Wallabies - after playing his first game in a month for his club, Dundee HSFP, at Glasgow Hawks on Saturday.

But doubts remain over two more Lions, Alan Tait and Gregor Townsend, with the Newcastle centre Tait given only a 50-50 chance of recovering from a hamstring pull sustained during training last week.

Townsend was reported as being "very positive" about overcoming a knee injury incurred during the same intensive session at Murrayfield.

SCOTLAND SQUAD (v South Africa, Murrayfield, Saturday): Backs: G Armstrong (Newcastle Falcons), C Chalmers (Melrose and Scottish Borders), J Craig (West of Scotland and Glasgow), D Hodge (Watsonians and Edinburgh), C Joiner (Leicester), K Logan (Wasps), A Nicol (Bath), R Shepherd (Melrose and Caledonia), A Stanger (Hawick and Scottish Borders), D Stark (Glasgow Hawks and Glasgow), A Tait (Newcastle Falcons), G Townsend (Northampton). Forwards: G Bullock (West of Scotland and Glasgow), S Campbell (Dundee HSFP and Caledonia), G Graham (Newcastle Falcons), S Grimes (Watsonians and Caledonia), D Hilton (Bath), S Murray (Bedford), G McKelvey (Watsonians), E Peters (Bath), S Reid (Boroughmuir and Edinburgh), I Smith (Moseley), B Stewart (Edinburgh Academicals and Edinburgh), M Stewart (Northampton), R Wainwright (Dundee HSFP and Caledonia), P Walton (Newcastle Falcons).