Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named a 45-man squad for the autumn Tests that includes uncapped teenager Freddy Douglas who has yet to play a competitive game for Edinburgh.
But it is without the experienced Jonny Gray of Bordeaux who has ruled himself out because he wants to “rest.”
Glasgow Warriors centre Sione Tuipulotu has been named Scotland squad captain ahead of the four matches against Fiji, South Africa, Portugal and Australia. His brother Mosese has been called up for the first time.
New Zealand-born fly-half Tom Jordan of Glasgow Warriors has become eligible through residency and his inclusion means Edinburgh’s Ben Healy drops out of the squad. Finn Russell and Adam Hastings are the other two tens.
Alex Samuel and Ben Muncaster are the other uncapped players chosen by Townsend.
It is a big squad that gives the Scotland head coach lots of options when it comes to selection.
Rob Robertson looks at the major talking points.
The wait goes on for Gregor Townsend as he tries to snatch two players from England
There are players out there that the Scotland head coach would love to capture such as dual-qualified centre Dan Lancaster, son of former England coach Stuart, who is playing really well at Racing 92. The same goes for Fergus Burke of Saracens, the New Zealander who Townsend has been chasing for over a year. The dual-qualified centre and fly-half could both be holding out for an England call-up that might never come.
Out of the two Lancaster, who qualifies through his Scottish grandparents, may be more open to playing for Scotland because England coach Steve Borthwick doesn’t pick players from outside England.
Nobody saw teenager Freddy Douglas being picked
He hasn’t even played for Edinburgh in the URC yet but the 19-year old finds himself in the Scotland squad for the Autumn Tests. No wonder he was shocked to be told on Tuesday lunchtime he had been called up and that his mum burst into tears when he told her.
Gregor Townsend looks on him as a Rory Darge type of open side and one for the future.
Stuart Hogg was first called up to the Scotland squad when he was nineteen back in 2012 and went on to have a great Scotland career. Let’s hope the teenage back row forward goes on to have such a successful time in the game.
Jonny Gray making himself unavailable is surprising and disappointing
There is a British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next summer and you would think Gray would want to play for Scotland as often as possible before that to catch the eye of Lions coach Andy Farrell.
He was out injured for most of last season and playing as often as possible at the top level just now would be beneficial to him to get back in the groove sooner rather than later.
Yes, he has played for Bordeaux pretty solidly for six weeks but it is a bad look to turn down your country.
Gray has agreed with Bordeaux management that he should rest when the November Tests are on which is disappointing. Townsend has quite rightly made clear to Gray that he cannot expect to waltz back into the Scotland squad for the Six Nations regardless how well he plays for Bordeaux between now and then.
Sione Tuipulotu as new captain is a surprise
What a rise it has been through the ranks for the Glasgow Warriors centre picked ahead of former skippers Russell, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge and Grant Gilchrist who are all in the Autumn squad.
Being named Scotland captain is likely to convince him to sign a new long-term contract rather than chase the money by moving to Harlequins or a big club in France when his Glasgow contract runs out at the end of the season.
There will be more pressure on him and he is a very emotional player and needs to stay calm, especially when Scotland play Australia where he was born and raised.
Both Sione and his brother Mosese qualify for Scotland through their grandmother from Greenock.
Russell, who has such a burden on him as playmaker, not being named captain makes a bit of sense as it allows him to concentrate on his own game but it is puzzling that Townsend has gone with Tuipulotu as captain when Darge in particular is in the squad.
Is Sione's brother Mosese ready for international rugby?
There has been the Hastings brothers and Milne brothers among other rugby playing siblings and now the brothers Tuipulotu are in the Scotland squad.
Mosese hardly played for the Waratahs in his native Australia and has only started out at Edinburgh four games ago yet finds himself in the Scotland squad.
He has been fast tracked so clearly Gregor Townsend feels he has seen enough of him. During the November Tests we will find out whether he will sink or swim at international level.
Ben Healy is out of the squad completely
The Edinburgh fly-half has had a sharp fall from grace for club and country since the summer. He was on the Scotland summer tour in July but on his return found himself losing his place at fly-half at Edinburgh to Ross Thompson who moved from Glasgow Warriors.
You have to feel a bit sorry for Healy who hasn’t become a bad player since he returned from the Scotland summer tour but clearly Townsend thinks he is yesterday’s man.
Ben Muncaster has the chance to prove he is the real deal
Injury hammered his progression last season but he is sure to be Edinburgh captain at some stage, maybe even Scotland. He was magnificent against the Stormers when he started at eight, even although he has played most of his rugby at seven.
He brings speed off the line and is a real character off the field who will bring a spark to the Scotland set-up.
Johnny Matthews must be wondering what he needs to do
He missed the summer tour as he needed to go in for ankle surgery but he has been a regular starter for Glasgow Warriors this season. He has been scoring tries regularly and is one of the first men on the Glasgow Warriors team sheet.
Yet he finds himself not picked with Paddy Harrison, Ewan Ashman and Dylan Richardson all selected ahead of him.
At 31, he isn’t in the first flush of youth but that should not count against him as 34-year-old Grant Gilchrist is in the squad.
Thank goodness for Zander Fagerson and let’s hope he stays fit
Gone are the days when Scotland had top-class tighthead props fighting it out for selection. Dating way back to Euan Murray- who Fagerson is similar to in style-then through to the likes of now retired WP Nel - there used to be some top class tightheads but not anymore.
Having Darcy Graham back brings a point of difference
The Edinburgh winger hasn’t played for Scotland since the World Cup because of injury. In that time Duhan van der Merwe has gone on to beat Stuart Hogg’s try scoring record and currently has 28 touchdowns to his credit.
Graham has made no secret of his desire to take it off him and has scored 24 tries. He will be desperate to play as much as he can during the autumn Tests to close the gap on vVan der Merwe.
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