DUNBAR EARNS SIX NATIONS CALL-UP
GLASGOW WARRIORS star Alex Dunbar has been called up to the Scotland squad for the Six Nations match against France. The centre was taken off at half-time against Cardiff on orders from international head coach Vern Cotter to ensure his fitness for the match at Murrayfield on Sunday. With Edinburgh’s Matt Scott likely to be ruled out with an arm injury and Mark Bennett believed to be sliding down the pecking order after being allowed to play for Glasgow yesterday, the only question Cotter has to answer is whether he pairs Dunbar with Duncan Taylor of Saracens from the start or leaves him on the bench in favour of Peter Horne. ‘The Scotland management wanted Alex to play 40 minutes against Cardiff,’ said Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend, who confirmed the player was not injured when he failed to re-appear for the second half at Scotstoun. Dunbar, who has not played for his country since the defeat to France in last year’s Six Nations, will be desperate to make his return this weekend. A knee injury that required surgery forced him out of the World Cup while a groin strain made him unavailable for selection in the first three Six Nations games. He made his comeback last weekend for Glasgow when he played a full 80 minutes and scored a try in the win over Newport Gwent Dragons. Now with another 40 minutes under his belt, he has proved his match fitness to Cotter. Scrum-half Henry Pyrgos played his first game of the season yesterday after surgery on a wrist injury he picked up on Scotland duty during the World Cup. He is highly thought of by Cotter and could also come into the Scotland squad as back-up to Greig Laidlaw in place of Edinburgh’s Sam Hidalgo-Clyne.