EMC Autumn Tests: Injury list a big factor in Andy Robinson’s squad choice

SCOTLAND coach Andy Robinson will today name a handful of international rookies and injured personnel in his squad to face New Zealand at the start of the EMC Autumn Test series.

International players have been falling like skittles in the opening six weeks of the season and Robinson could be facing the prospect of naming an inexperienced Test side for a series that also brings South Africa and Tonga to Scotland next month.

After a dismal showing in the 2012 RBS Six Nations, Robinson and his players lifted morale in June with wins over Australia, Fiji and Samoa, to claim a second series success after an Argentina double in 2010. But the coach now has his work cut out to build on that and push Scotland up a spot into the top eight in the IRB world rankings to earn second seed status in December’s Rugby World Cup draw.

Capped players already out include backs Chris Cusiter, Duncan Weir, Ben Cairns, Rory Lamont and Joe Ansbro, as well as prop trio Jon Welsh, Moray Low and Ed Kalman. Tighthead Euan Murray is unavailable for religious reasons against New Zealand because the game is on a Sunday.

Confidence at Edinburgh is shaky after two Heineken Cup thrashing and the squad strength hinges on how swiftly players carrying injuries recover to be sensible options for Tests against world-leading nations.

The short-to-medium term injury list includes Tim Visser, Greig Laidlaw, Duncan Weir, Graeme Morrison, Sean Lamont, Richie Gray and Max Evans.

Stuart Hogg and Rob Harley have returned for Glasgow just in time to push themselves back into contention and it is hoped that Visser will be back in Edinburgh’s side for Friday night’s game against the Scarlets.

However, Glasgow trio Peter Murchie, Tommy Seymour and Henry Pyrgos are all in the frame for first call-ups, having shown fine early season form while Greig Tonks and Stuart McInally could also be handed their first taste of Test involvement.