00:00 Hello, it's Graham Bean for the Scotsman down at Queen's Ferry. We're here for the Scotland
00:10 Rugby World Cup squad announcement. Gregor Townsend has today named us 33 players that
00:15 he's going to take to the tournament in Japan next month. So it means there's four players
00:19 that have been cut out of the squad, so that's unfortunate for Stuart McAnally, Jamie Doby,
00:25 Murphy Walker and Josh Bayliss. And good news for the other 33 who will be travelling to
00:32 France at the start of September. Scotland have got one more game to play before they
00:36 go. They play Georgia at Murrayfield on August 26th. Then it's all roads lead to France and
00:43 their tough Pool B section where they've been drawn against South Africa, Tonga, Romania
00:48 and Ireland. It's a really tough draw but the squad are upbeat and confident mood. Jamie
00:55 Ritchie thinks it's the best group of players arguably that Scotland have ever put together.
00:59 Yeah, really excited, really proud. I've said this before, captaining is not something that
01:05 you dream of as a kid. You just dream of playing and running at Murrayfield in front of all
01:10 those people and getting to live out that kind of dream. Whereas, captaincy is probably
01:14 more something that comes into it when you're already kind of involved and I think really
01:18 lucky to have the group of men that I'm able to lead. So yeah, really, really special.
01:24 Really strong, I think. Arguably, probably one of the strongest ever. I think the depth
01:29 that we have is excellent. Even you look at the guys who unfortunately have missed out
01:34 on the squad, could easily have been in there and arguably would have been in there in previous
01:38 World Cups. Yeah, a really strong group and I think we're building really nicely.
01:43 Gregor Timez admitted it was really tough to tell the four players that they were not
01:47 going to the World Cup. Yeah, there was obviously disappointment, real disappointment and you'll
01:51 get different views, different conversations. Sometimes they're quiet, sometimes they're
01:59 very grateful for the opportunity they've had over the last two months but also there's
02:04 anger that they've missed out on something that they've set as a big goal in their lives.
02:12 What I've said to all the players is be ready for your opportunity because our sport does
02:18 involve injuries, like any sport, but in particular ours when there's collisions. So I'd be very
02:25 surprised if the 33 that we announced today remains the same as we go throughout the tournament.
02:31 So those players that missed out could still play a big role in this tournament.
02:36 We also spoke to Sione Tupulotu, Scotland's centre, who'd gone to his first World Cup.
02:41 He's been in excellent form in the warm-up games against France in particular.
02:45 Gregor gave me a bell, actually, when was that? I want to say Monday during the day.
02:51 Just gave me a bell and said, 'Yeah, I'm in the squad' and yeah, it was exciting, isn't it?
02:55 It's been awesome. I think I really needed the minutes under my belt, obviously after
02:59 a tough pre-season and my body's feeling good and I feel like I'm in a good place to go
03:03 over there and put out my best performances when they count during the World Cup.
03:06 Jamie's been around a bit longer than I have in Scotland so he's probably seen a few to
03:10 make the judgement call but it's definitely the strongest squad I've ever been a part of
03:16 in rugby in general. I'm honoured to be a part of it and I suppose when you get over
03:21 there all you want to do is contribute. I'm super excited along with all the boys and
03:24 we can't wait to get over there and do Scotland proud.
03:26 Go on.
03:26 [END]
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