Six Nations: Maitland and McInally called up

Sean Lamont will miss the matches against England and Ireland. Picture: PA

Maitland has been out of action since the 25 January with a shoulder problem, but has been deemed fit to join-up with the national set-up as a direct replacement for Glasgow Warriors team-mate Sean Lamont, who injured his knee in Friday night’s Guinness Pro12 victory over Zebre at Scotstoun.

McInally’s promotion is more of an eye-brow raiser given that the 24-year-old has started only six professional matches as a hooker [five whilst on loan to Bristol in the second tier English Championship and one for Edinburgh against Treviso on Saturday night] since making the switch from the back-row in the summer of 2013.

It means that if Ross Ford fails to recover from the back problem he picked up against Italy ten days ago, then Scotland will be left relying on two with only 11 professional starts between them in one of the most highly pressurised positions on the park. The only other hooker in the squad is Fraser Brown, who has played six times for Scotland but always as a late replacement. He has only five professional starts in that position with Glasgow Warriors.

However, assistant coach Matt Taylor suggested yesterday that McInally’s call-up is aimed more at the long-term goal of helping integrate the player into the squad for the World Cup and beyond, rather than being with a view to throwing him in at the deep end against England in four days’ time.

“Stuart has been earmarked since moving from the back-row as someone we want to get involved, and now he’s had a few starts for Edinburgh we’ve brought him into the squad to have a look at him and see what he’s like,” said Taylor.

“Ross Ford’s back was a bit sore last week, he was in a bad way at the end of the game, but over the last week he’s improved a lot. He’s running around today so we’re hopeful that he’s going to be right for the game at the weekend.”

“And we’ve got Fraser Brown there as well whose doing a good job. So it’s about developing guys for the future by bringing them into the squad, showing them how things are done.”