DAVID SOLE

With the 2021 Six Nations just around the corner, Gregor Townsend announced his squad for the tournament and, as ever with Townsend, it is one which has caused a few eyebrows to be raised.

There are four uncapped players and a few significant changes from his squad that took part in the Autumn Nations Cup.

A headache for Townsend is in his front row, with both Stuart Mcinally and Fraser Brown out injured.

When both Mcinally and Brown are on form, they are Lions class, but there is a real gap in talent between them and the next incumbent, George Turner.

Perhaps it is an indicator that he is so concerned about the position, that he has chosen three other hookers to join Turner in the squad – Dave Cherry from Edinburgh, Ewan Ashman from Sale and Turner’s Glasgow colleague, Grant Stewart.

By contrast, Townsend has only selected two scrum-halves in his squad in Ali Price and Scott Steele.

While George Horne is out injured, Sam Hidalgo-clyne can feel justifiably upset, especially since the youngster Jamie Dobie has been asked to train with the squad.

Townsend has cited the fact that the squad isn’t closed as a reason to exclude Hidalgo-clyne, which seems a little unfair, given two of his club colleagues

I wonder if this squad has the sufficient firepower

are involved. He may yet get the call if injuries occur.

Perhaps the most-surprising selection was in the choice of centre, both in terms of who Townsend selected and who he left out.

Sam Johnson, who recently re-signed for Glasgow, has been left out of the squad and there is no place for the highly-talented Rory Hutchinson from Northampton.

Hutchinson has been injured this season, but has looked the part when he has been given the opportunity in the past – it’s odd that Townsend continues to ignore him.

Instead, he has selected the son of his good friend and fellow half-back, Bryan Redpath.

Cameron Redpath is dual-qualified and is currently at Bath. He was selected by Eddie Jones for England, but was never capped, so now his head has been turned towards Scotland.

I do find it slightly bizarre that having gone so far down the English route that Redpath has had a change of heart, despite his parental links to Scotland

– if he really wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, why did he accept the invitation to join England?

Doubtless we may find out in due course. But he has a real talent and could give Townsend a selection headache over the coming weeks.

Scotland’s opening match is at Twickenham in a fortnight, where they haven’t won since 1983.

With no crowds allowed in, home advantage may be diluted, but I wonder if this squad has sufficient firepower to trouble their hosts.