00:00Hello, it's Graeme Bean from the Scotsman at the Orium Sports Centre in Edinburgh where Gregor Townsend has just named his Scotland squad for the forthcoming Autumn Nations series.
00:12He's named a 45-man squad for the four games. Scotland kick-off against the USA a week on Saturday, then the big one against New Zealand the following weekend, and then it's Argentina, and then Tonga, the final match.
00:24All four games at Murrayfield, and Gregor Townsend has named a 45-man squad for the fixtures.
00:32The captain is Sione Tuopilotto, coming back in as captain, having missed the Six Nations through injury, and the Scotland Summer Tour because he was away with the Lions.
00:43Tuopilotto did a fine job in the autumn and takes over again from Rory Darge, who was Scotland captain in the summer.
00:49There's three uncapped players in the squad, two young Edinburgh players, Liam McConnell and Harry Morris.
00:57McConnell's played in all three Edinburgh games this season, done a very good job at Blindside Flanker.
01:05He's a chance to win his first cap.
01:07And Harry Morris, who's been less used, really just played in pre-season, but a young hooker with potential.
01:13He's been around Edinburgh for a little while now, but looked particularly good against Doncaster Knights in the pre-season games.
01:21And he's one of four hookers in the squad.
01:24The other uncapped player is Alex Masabaka of Montpellier, who's been involved in a couple of Scotland squads before,
01:30and played against the Mourie All Blacks in the non-capped fixture in the summer.
01:35The other points of interest are that the three Glasgow players who are carrying injuries, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey and Xander Fagerson, are all included.
01:48I think Dempsey looks like the one who's closest to full fitness as he recovers from a groin injury.
01:54And Darge and Fagerson are a little bit further behind, but Townsend is hopeful, I think, that Fagerson will be fit to face the All Blacks.
02:01There's no place in the squad for Cameron Redpath and David Cherry, two notable absentees.
02:10Also Hugh Jones misses out, as expected, through injury.
02:14He's had an operation on an Achilles tendon issue, which is bothering for some time.
02:21He's not likely to be fit until some time next year.
02:24Other points of interest is a recall for Magnus Bradbury, the Edinburgh captain, who's been playing really well this season,
02:29and finished last season very strongly also.
02:32He comes in and could win his first cap since the summer 22 Tour of Argentina.
02:41He's made Edinburgh captain at the start of the season and has led well, looks very much in form
02:47and a contender to play at number eight over the autumn.
02:53So things kick off a week on Saturday for Scotland against the USA at Murrayfield.
02:58And please stay tuned to the Scotland website for further updates.
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