Ali Price gets coach's verdict on Scotland chance with World Cup fast approaching and Australia this Sunday

Scotland assistant coach John Dalziel believes that scrum half Ali Price has every chance of forcing his way back into the national team after joining up with the squad this week.

The 33-year-old, last capped against Fiji in November 2024, has linked up with the group as a training player with Sale Sharks counterpart Gus Warr returning to his club side. It comes on the back of the 2021 British & Irish Lion’s impressive club form which saw him lift the EPCR Challenge Cup with Montpellier earlier this year.

Toulon’s Ben White and Glasgow Warriors’ George Horne have been the go to number nines under Gregor Townsend in recent campaigns with Jamie Dobie able to cover both scrum-half and winger. However, Price’s club form has resulted in plenty of calls for him to be back in the mix and that noise is coming through loud and clear to the coaches.

Experienced scum half Ali Price has joined up with the Scotland squad (Pic: SNS) | SNS Group / SRU

“He’s come back in and fitted like a glove” - Scotland coach on Ali Price’s return to the national team squad

“That's the growth of the three guys that we picked originally in the squad,” said Dalziel when asked about the former Glasgow and Edinburgh man’s absence from recent squads. “You've got the versatility of Jamie Dobie then Ben White and George Horne with that great blend of starting and the momentum that comes with George later on in games.

“We think it's really important this year to go a bit deeper than that in all positions around that. Obviously, Gus Warr joined us, he has played really well for Sale, he's been in great form.

“The squad is restricted to a number where we've got to try and get our head around or it becomes crazy. In the World Cup, you've got 33, so it's even less [than this month].

“We need to try and plan and anticipate for that and see what it looks like, but also have the ability in these couple of campaigns as well to reward good form of Ali for the way he's been playing. I must say, he's come back in and fitted like a glove and trained really well.”

Specifically on Price’s chances of making the squad for next year’s Rugby World Cup, Dalziel added: “He's playing in a very, very strong team out in the Top 14 that are winning a lot. He’s starting a lot, so of course he does.

“It just shows that the competition in a lot of places that we have in the squad, he was probably unfortunate to miss out, we strongly considered it. It's great that we can have our three [first choices] in and still have that ability to bring guys in as well.”

Scotland return to action this weekend as Australia travel to Murrayfield for the second of four November Test matches in the Nations Championship. The Wallabies were on the wrong end of a 45-22 pasting at the hands of England at Twickenham last weekend but Dalziel is still expecting a tough encounter on Sunday.

“They're a team that beat South Africa just a number of Tests ago,” said Dalziel. “They’re a very dangerous team, a team that's scored a lot of points.

“A team that's very much in line with us and New Zealand in that the attacking side of the game is where they are, a team that plays loads. A team that will come like us, disappointed with last weekend and hugely motivated to get into this week.”

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