Highlanders’ John Hardie selected for World Cup

Hardie arrived in the country just five weeks ago, armed with a pair of boots, a short-term Scottish Rugby Union contract and documentary evidence of his grandmother’s links to Fife.

The inclusion of yet another foreign recruit sparked fury among the likes of former Scotland prop Peter Wright, who dubbed the decision to snub native Scots such as Barclay a “disgrace”.

Scotland are in the same World Cup group as South Africa, Samoa, Japan and the United States, and it is the game against the Springboks on 3 October in Newcastle that will loom largest in Strauss’s mind.

But he was back in Cotter’s line-up for last weekend’s 48-7 thrashing of Italy and after securing a place in the 31-man squad which will travel to the World Cup, will again start when the team round off their tournament preparations against France in Paris this Saturday.

Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour, who missed Scotland’s previous warm-up Tests against Ireland and the two against Italy, are both back.

“We felt that John gave us that specialist seven role and we have other players who have the versatility to cover if necessary”.

“Scotland have got some very good players now and have shown that they can compete against the top sides in the world”, Southwell told Reuters.

“I would like to think so, however, I have said it before, I don’t take anything for granted anymore”, the Glasgow wing said. “You know there are people around me that I am comfortable playing with so my mindset is to get my head down and do what I do best and representing the shirt when I can”. Some players had their first game and we weren’t particularly accurate at times.

His place in the back-row stocks has gone to the uncapped Josh Strauss, who becomes eligible to play for Scotland just four days before their first World Cup match.

Rob Harley, meanwhile, failed to make the cut after Tim Swinson – who was not even in the training squad after suffering an ankle injury – was given a surprise invite after making a speedy recovery. “I’ve always aspired to being an All Black”.

“From our launch plays, we threw a few balls to the ground”.

“For me, it was all about settling in with Glasgow and proving myself”.

“I had a lot of time to think and train [while I was banned]”. Wales begin their World Cup campaign against Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on September 20, but whether they get through to the last eight appears to depend on the outcome of their Twickenham clashes against pool rivals England and Australia.

He said: “We have been made to work extremely hard”.