Young prospects vie for a role in World Cup opener

Scotland will hold back their big guns when they play a World Cup warm- up against the New South Wales Country Under- 23s at Ballina today.

Coach Steve McCormack will rest a host of senior players, including skipper Danny Brough, ahead of the opening game against Tonga in Cairns on Sunday week while halfback Callum Phillips is recovering from a training- ground collision and second row er Dale Fergusonis nursing a sore hamstring.

Hull KR teenage winger Will Oakes and Toulouse brothers Kane and Andrew Bentley, who played for France in the last WorldCup, are among eight uncapped players in Mccormack’s 24- man squad for the friendly.

Mccormack will also give run-outs to three members of the Scotland Students side who are playing their club rugby in New South Wales.

“It will be a chance for some of these younger players to stake a claim for a spot against Tonga,” Mccormack said.

Tonga are expected to mount a strong challenge for a semifinal spot after their high-profile recruitment headed by New Zealand loose forward Jason Taumalolo and Australia prop Andrew Fifita.