Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has brought two more players into the squad as injury cover ahead of the autumn internationals.
Glasgow centre Peter Horne and uncapped Edinburgh scrum half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne have been called up due to doubts over Alex Dunbar and Chris Cusiter. Dunbar reported ankle discomfort during Glasgow’s 15-13 win over Montpellier in the European Champions Cup on Saturday, while a calf strain kept Cusiter out as Sale slumped to their second successive defeat in the competition – 35-3 at Clermont.
Scotland’s medical team will now examine the pair to see if they can feature next month but Horne and Hidalgo-Clyne will join the rest of the squad at the three-day training camp at Royal Grammar School, Newcastle. While most of the squad arrived at the training base – which will also be used by Scotland during next year’s World Cup – on Sunday night, Glasgow wingers Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland linked up with the rest of the players yesterday morning.
Scottish Rugby reported that they both suffered “concussive episodes” after taking head knocks during Glasgow’s win over Montpellier and were told to rest at home before beginning return-to-play protocols when they arrived on Tyneside.
Cotter’s men face Argentina in their first autumn Test at Murrayfield on November 8, before testing themselves against the might of New Zealand at the same venue a week later and finishing up against Tonga on November 22 at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock.
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has named five uncapped players in a 36-man squad for the Springboks’ European tour.
The group contains 29 players involved in this year’s Rugby Champion-ship, plus newcomers Robbie Coetzee, Julian Redelinghuys, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Kriel and Seabelo Senatla, while Coenie Oosthuizen and Johan Goosen both earn recalls.
South Africa launch their tour against Ireland in Dublin on November 8, which is followed by games with England, Italy and Wales.
SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD