Pete Horne urges youngsters to show they can be 'test match animals'

While the team features seven players - Arron Reed, Jamie Dobie, Jamie Bhatti, Ewan Johnson, Freddy Douglas, Ben Muncaster and Stafford McDowall - who will captain the second-string side - who all featured in the win over Portugal at the weekend. 

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There is also a first Scotland appearance for Mosese Tuipulotu - brother of senior team captain Sione - while opportunities await for several Edinburgh and Glasgow fringe players on the bench. 

Horne faced the media on Monday afternoon after naming his side. Here are five talking points from the selection.  

Some bargaining with Gregor Townsend 

While the squad features seven of the 23 players that beat Portugal, Horne has had some negotiating to do with the Scotland head coach about the make-up of this team.  

Horne explained: “Gregor's been brilliant with it. Every night we've been joking. The squad's changed a little bit here and there, so I've been badgering him constantly.  

Pete Horne said he had some bargaining to do with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend (Image: SNS) “There were a few players I had to beg to get to play - guys that have done well in the autumn.  

“But I knew they would add a lot to this and he was really keen for them to have another opportunity.” 

Test players disappointed  

Just 48 hours from leading out Scotland at Murrayfield, Stafford McDowall found out he had lost his place in Townsend’s 23 to face Australia and will instead captain the ‘A’ team against Chile.

So too Arron Reed, the scorer of two tries in the win over Portugal, Jamie Bhatti, who broke his international try-scoring duck and Jamie Dobie who impressed from the bench.  

Horne acknowledged they had reacted well despite the disappointment.  

Arron Reed is among the players who played (and scored) against Portugal to have been left out of the squad to face Australia (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) “There'd be something wrong if they weren't disappointed they're not playing on Sunday [against Australia],” he said.  

“All of them were obviously gutted initially, but by the time they came in first thing this morning, you would have no idea.  They're looking forward to leading. They know that the lift that they give all the other guys in the team and in the squad is huge.”  

There was praise too for Edinburgh’s Ben Healy, who has endured a difficult start to the season but finds himself on the bench for Scotland ‘A’.  

Horne said of the ex-Munster man: “He's a cracking, cracking guy. We're looking forward to seeing him get another shot of the weekend.” 

Opportunities for young players 

This squad has an ‘Emerging Scotland’ feel about it, particularly on the bench where there are opportunities for the likes of Jare Oguntibeju and Liam McConnell having not played for their senior professional sides yet.  

Horne said it is a chance for them to show they can become “test match animals”.  

He said: “It's a great opportunity for somebody who misses out on test opportunities to show that they're ready.  

“They might bring something different in a different way of playing potentially from their club, or it might just be that with even better players around them, they go in and they thrive.” 

Horne also said the decision to select hookers Gregor Hiddleston and Harri Morris was a reflection on their potential.  

Glasgow's Gregor Hiddleston will start for Scotland 'A' (Image: SNS) "Everyone's been really excited to see the two young hookers,” he said.  

“Gregor Hiddleston has been chapping at the door. He was unlucky to miss out on selection on the summer tour and even with the Six Nations, he was right in the mix.” 

On Morris – who has only made two appearances for Edinburgh, and one since switching from the back-row to hooker, Horne added: “He's a cracking kid, just one of the toughest guys I've ever met. He's honestly hard as nails.” 

No limit on where Horne could have turned to fill squad 

Of Saturday’s squad, only fullback Arron Reed plays his rugby outside of the two Scottish professional sides.

However, Horne said he was not limited to picking his squad from Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.  

Gus Warr featured for Scotland in the summer but has not been selected for the 'A' squad (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire) “We were able to pick from any of the exiles that have committed to play for Scotland,” Horne said.  

Head coach relishing added responsibility 

It is still less than three years since Horne, who won 45 caps for Scotland, hung up his boots.

In that time, he’s graduated from coaching Ayrshire Bulls to being an assistant with Glasgow, then with the national team. He’s looking forward to leading the ‘A’ side this week.  

Peter Horne has enjoyed a rapid rise through the coaching ranks since retiring in December 2021 (Image: SNS) He said: "It's been great. It feels it's a great experience. I'm obviously wanting to get better all the time and it's another chance to put yourself out there and put your own little twist on things.” 

Scotland 'A': Arron Reed, Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Stafford McDowall (captain), Ross McCann, Ross Thompson, Jamie Dobie; Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Hiddleston, D'Arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Ewan Johnson, Tom Dodd, Freddy Douglas, Ben Muncaster 

Replacements: Harri Morris, Mikey Jones, Fin Richardson, Jare Oguntibeju, Liam McConnell, Ben Afshar, Ben Healy, Jack Brown