SA duo make Scotland cut

Prop Nel plays at Edinburgh, while loose forward Strauss plys his trade at Glasgow and both were not exactly certainties to be selected.

Scotland coach Vern Cotter named his 31-man squad for this month's World Cup in England, and surprisingly loose forwards John Barclay and Blair Cowan were the two most high-profile omissions.

However, fellow loose foward John Hardie, who only arrived in Scotland five weeks ago from New Zealand, and has played just 57 minutes of international rugby after making his debut in Turin this month, was included by Kiwi coach Cotter.

Cowan's absence was a particular surprise as the New Zealand-born forward, who plays his club rugby for London Irish, started all five of Scotland's Six Nations matches this season.

Barclay, meanwhile ended a two-year spell in the international wilderness when he was recalled for last month's warm-up matches against Ireland and Italy.

But despite scoring in the 48-7 rout of Italy at Murrayfield last Saturday, the Scarlets flank has also been left out of the 31-man squad.

Gloucester scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw will continue to captain the team.

Scotland World Cup squad:

Backs: Stuart Hogg, Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Matt Scott, Richie Vernon, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne Greig Laidlaw (capt), Henry Pyrgos.  

Forwards: David Denton, John Hardie, Josh Strauss, Alasdair Strokosch, Ryan Wilson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Stuart McInally, Alasdair Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh.

Source: Agence France-Presse