Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Scottish Rugby Union in effect endorsed the cock-up theory of rugby history last night when a fax containing the identity of the Scotland squad for the World Cup in South Africa was inadvertently circulated nearly a day ahead of the scheduled announcement.
This embarrassment meant that there could be no official comment on the selection, which had been made on Tuesday evening. If there had been, it would probably have been to give the good news to Andy Nicol that if he can prove his fitness before the end of the season, he will fill the vacancy that has been left at scrum-half.
Nicol has been a non-playing Bath player this season, having joined the English champions 11 months ago after sustaining a serious knee injury. The first tentative steps of his comeback were made when he played half of a third-team match and last Saturday he successfully completed Bath seconds' fixture against Rugby.
He is not in the Bath team to play West Hartlepool on Saturday, but his first-team debut will not be long delayed and the Scotland selectors have graciously consented to exempt Nicol from the ban on members of their squad playing before the end of the season.
Nicol is one - albeit the most serious - of a number of injured players whose recovery has been in time for selection. Ian Jardine's jaw, Dave Hilton's ribs, Damian Cronin's elbow and Peter Walton's knee are all in sufficiently improved condition, and Gregor Townsend and Alan Sharp are the only injured contenders to have missed out.
SCOTLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD: Full-back: G Hastings (Watsonians, capt); Wings: C Glasgow (Heriot's FP), C Joiner (Melrose), K Logan (Stirling County), A Stanger (Hawick); Centres: S Hastings (Watsonians), I Jardine (Stirling County); Outside-halves: C Chalmers, G Shiel (Melrose); Scrum-halves: B Redpath (Melrose), A N Other.
Props: P Burnell (London Scottish), D Hilton (Bath), J Manson (Dundee HSFP), P Wright (Boroughmuir); Hookers: K McKenzie (Stirling County), K Milne (Heriot's FP); Locks: S Campbell (Dundee HSFP), D Cronin (Bourges), J Richardson (Edinburgh Academicals), G Weir (Melrose); Back row: I Morrison (London Scottish), E Peters (Bath), I Smith (Gloucester), R Wainwright (West Hartlepool), P Walton (Northampton).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments