Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is set to omit five star players from his Rugby World Cup squad when he announces it on Tuesday.
According to reports Huw Jones is the
biggest name that will be made of players that will not feature in Japan.
Jones has failed to find the sort of form
that saw him become a vital part of the team last year. Despite a record of ten
tries in 22 games, his unfortunate dip in form couldn’t have come at a worse
time as he now looks likely to be left at home.
As well as Jones, Josh Strauss is another
man who is reported to be excluded from the squad as his inconsistent form has
become a problem in Townsend’s eyes, despite lining-out for the Scots seven
times this year.
Elsewhere, Matt Fagerson, Rory Hutchinson
and Magnus Bradbury are all to be left at home.
Hutchinson will be hugely disappointed
following his incredible display at the weekend during his side’s 44-10 World
Cup warm-up victory over Georgia in which he scored two tries.
Fagerson also put in a decent showing
during the win and has had a good season with Glasgow Warriors but he has not
done enough to be given a ticket to Japan.
Bradbury played a key role in the team’s
38-38 draw with England in the Six Nations earlier this year but has been unavailable
for selection in any warm-ups so far due to injury.
Townsend will name his official squad
tomorrow ahead of the tournament where they face a tough task in their opening game
as they play Ireland on September 22nd.
