Mcinally to captain Scotland against Wales
LONDON: Edinburgh hooker Stuart Mcinally will lead Scotland out against Wales at Cardiff on Saturday after being named as captain by coach Gregor Townsend in a 23-man matchday squad announced on Wednesday.
It will be the second time the 28-year-old Mcinally has skippered the national side after leading Scotland to a 44-15 win away to Argentina at Resistencia in June in their final match of a tour of the Americas after he missed earlier fixtures on the trip through injury.
Saturday’s match is being played outside World rugby’s international window so both Scotland and Wales will be unable to select their overseas-based players.
That has ruled out Scotland scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, now at French club Clermont, while injury has sidelined another former captain in John Barclay, with Townsend deciding to retain Mcinally as skipper.
The window restrictions mean Townsend’s team is effectively an Edinburgh-glasgow select side.
Only four players who featured in the defeat of the Pumas are retained, with Mcinally joined by Edinburgh front-rower Allan Dell, while Glasgow flyhalf Adam Hastings — the son of Scotland great Gavin — and fullback Blair Kinghorn also retain their places.
But there is plenty of experience throughout the Scotland side with five Glasgow backs -- wingers Tommy Seymour, Lee Jones, centres Huw Jones and Alex Dunbar, and scrum-half Ali Price all returning to the line-up.