Scotland selection headaches ahead of Autumn Nations Series

While the new United Rugby Championship (URC) season may be in its infancy, there are already some selection dilemmas head coach Gregor Townsend will have to weigh up. 

We look at some of the areas the Scotland boss will be giving most consideration ahead of his squad announcement later this month. 

Prop

At loosehead, Pierre Schoeman has established himself as a first-pick under Townsend, while Rory Sutherland is back at Glasgow and looking to rediscover the form that made him a Lions tourist in 2021 and will compete with Jamie Bhatti for club and country. 

Scotland prop Rory Sutherland, who joined Glasgow Warriors in the summer (Image: SNS) It is on the other side of the scrum where things get worrying. 

Zander Fagerson is the undisputed first choice at tighthead, but the question comes when trying to select his back-up, particularly following the retirement of WP Nel in the summer. 

Scotland used their tour of the Americas to give youngsters an opportunity - Leicester's Will Hurd and Glasgow's Murphy Walker travelled alongside Elliot Millar Mills of Northampton Saints and Edinburgh's Javan Sebastian. 

Will Hurd with his family after making his Scotland debut in Canada (Image: Getty Images) They are all yet to play for their clubs this season and although that could change by the time Townsend selects his squad, it would require a huge step up to play at Test level. 

Another long campaign beckons for Fagerson, it seems. 

Hooker

The departure of George Turner to Japan and the retirements of Fraser Brown and Stuart McInally over the last 12 months have created a gap in the middle of Scotland's front row. 

With Dave Cherry seemingly deemed surplus to requirements following the Rugby World Cup, Ewan Ashman is the only one of Townsend's trio selected for that tournament still in contention a year later.

Ewan Ashman is the most experienced of Scotland's hooking options (Image: SNS) However, Ashman has endured a difficult start to the season with Edinburgh, with the capital club's lineout misfiring at key times in both league matches so far.

Johnny Matthews won his sole cap to date as a replacement in the drubbing of Romania, but was overlooked for the summer tour despite finishing Glasgow's title-winning campaign as the URC's leading try-scorer. Having started the season in good form, he must come into contention for the Autumn Nations Series. 

Dylan Richardson of The Sharks was one of the finds of the summer and started the Durban-based side's URC opener against Connacht at the weekend.

Dylan Richardson was excellent for Scotland on the summer tour (Image: Getty Images) He is likely to get the third hooker berth when Townsend names his training squad. 

Don't be surprised to see Edinburgh's Patrick Harrison, who made his debut in the summer, also included, while Gregor Hiddleston continues to press his claim when called upon by the Warriors. 

Lock

Max Williamson and Ewan Johnson both showed up well during the summer tour and could force themselves in again, partly owing to injuries to Sam Skinner and Glen Young. 

Scotland's lock stocks have been further bolstered by the return to fitness of Jonny Gray, who helped his new side Bordeaux to a win over Toulouse at the weekend. 

Jonny Gray has started life with Bordeaux Begles in good form (Image: Getty Images) Grant Gilchrist and Richie Gray were given the summer off, but expect they will return to the fold next month alongside Scott Cummings in an area where Scotland have no shortage of options. 

Back-row

Another area of strength for Townsend's side and from where he has selected two of his most recent captains in Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge. 

Barring injury, they will both be in again having started the season in fine form, while Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey are shoo-ins.

Scotland duo Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge (Image: SNS)

Andy Onyeama-Christie was excellent at the latter end of the Six Nations, and has started the season well for Saracens, and should earn a spot. 

While primarily a hooker, Richardson offers cover in this department too, and expect Luke Crosbie, Josh Bayliss, Hamish Watson and Magnus Bradbury to be among those competing for places in the wider squad.

Scrum-half

The selection here appears more straightforward, with Ben White and George Horne the first two choices.

George Horne has become an important player for club and country (Image: SNS) Jamie Dobie will likely get the third spot in Townsend's squad, and can offer cover on the wing. 

Fly-half

Finn Russell will start, should be captain and, injuries aside, should expect to play almost every minute of the games he is available for. 

Adam Hastings has made a good start to his return at Glasgow, while Ross Thompson appears to have overtaken Ben Healy in the Edinburgh pecking order following his summer switch from Scotstoun. 

Finn Russell (Image: Arnold Clark) The experiment of playing Blair Kinghorn in the number 10 jersey has been shelved, it would seem, but the Toulouse fullback does offer cover if Townsend wants to go down the road of a 6:2 bench split. 

Centres

Like tighthead, this could be an area of concern for the Scotland boss a month out from the Fiji match, which falls outside the Test window, meaning Scotland's exiles will not be available. 

Injury means Cam Redpath is likely to miss the Autumn Nations Series, while the above ruling means Townsend is unable to select Rory Hutchinson or Chris Harris. 

With Edinburgh trio James Lang, Mark Bennett and Matt Currie also sidelined through injury, the options take another hit. 

And when you consider Huw Jones is yet to feature for Glasgow and Stafford McDowall picked up a knock in their season opener, Townsend's options (at least as it stands) take a further hit.  

Huw Jones has missed the first two games of the season (Image: SNS) Tom Jordan qualifies for Scotland next month and could come into Townsend's thinking for a midfield slot, while Matt Scott offers an experienced option should others not recover sufficiently in time. 

Bolstering his midfield options - primarily through getting McDowall and Jones back on the field - will be near the top of Townsend's wish list for October. 

Back three

With Darcy Graham fit again, the question now is how Townsend gets the Hawick man, Duhan van der Merwe and Kyle Steyn in his squad alongside fullback Blair Kinghorn. 

Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn has given Townsend a selection headache (Image: SNS) Beyond them, Arron Reed impressed on the summer tour, albeit against very limited opposition, as did Harry Paterson, but he is currently sidelined with a foot injury. Glasgow's Kyle Rowe is an option both on the wing and at fullback.