In-form Fraser’s a shoo-in at hooker for Wilson

GLASGOW head coach Danny Wilson backs inform Fraser Brown to keep the Scotland hooker’s jersey for the Autumn Cup campaign following Friday’s two-try display against Georgia.

Brown started three of Scotland’s first four Six Nations matches earlier this year after replacing demoted captain Stuart McInally for the final game of their World Cup campaign against Japan.

The 31-year-old, who has 51 caps but started in only 19, has been in barnstorming form since rugby resumed in August, revelling in the extra responsibility of being made co-captain of the Warriors.

“Fraser returned in a really good place,” Wilson said. “He is a game animal; he wants to be on the field and involved in those contact situations – he has been hungry for those.

“I think he’s the in-form hooker at the moment. He has been throwing extremely well; he has contributed to a good lineout that is working well system-wise for us and his scrummaging is really good too.

“He is a real handful both in attack and defence and I’ve been impressed with his attacking carrying – he is fighting in contact and making those extra yards. He has been going well and him and Ryan (Wilson, Glasgow’s other co-captain) are both leading well.”

That assessment contrasts with the view expressed recently by Edinburgh counterpart Richard Cockerill, who lamented “a lack of natural leaders in Scotland”.

His side blew opportunities to win a PRO14 semi-final with Ulster and a European Challenge Cup quarter-final in Bordeaux, while a lack of composure and direction has also been apparent in league defeats to Ospreys and Munster.

Wilson believes both Brown and McInally – who he also worked with in his previous role as Scotland forwards coach – will have key roles over the next six weeks.

“Scotland are lucky to have these two,” he added. “They are both top blokes and top players but from my end, I’m really pleased because Fraser is playing extremely well at the moment.”