Rugby: White set for Scotland recall

JASON WHITE is in the running for a return to international rugby as Scotland coach Andy Robinson begins to fine tune his options for next month's Autumn Test series against New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa.

The ex-Watsonian back row has been unable to add to his 77 caps since suffering a double leg fracture in the wake of coming off the bench in all three Autumn Tests last year.

But, speaking at Murrayfield, coach Robinson made it clear he needs a replacement for injured Glasgow No.8 Johnny Beattie, with 32-year-old White one of the contenders. Robinson said: "Jason is back playing with Clermont Auvergne and we are monitoring his performances.

"He will come into the equation for selection to the squad."

Any return by White, who has spent the last month as a substitute with Clermont, could also help solve a captaincy dilemma at a time when Al Kellock, Chris Cusiter and Rory Lawson are all battling to be fit.

The obvious candidate remains Mike Blair who has, in the past, led Scotland to Calcutta Cup glory.

But, if Robinson wants to let Edinburgh's scrum half concentrate on maintaining his excellent return to form, then White has vast leadership experience as the man who skippered Scotland at the 2007 World Cup albeit his future role could be as an impact player entering the fray for the final quarter.

Robinson indicated that opportunity knocks for the uncapped Edinburgh trio of Greig Laidlaw, Jim Thompson and Roddy Grant over the next few weeks as the Test build up sees Magners League matches give way to Heineken European Cup ties.

Thompson was particularly close when occupying a seat on the bench during the first Test win in Argentina this summer only to be displaced for the second instalment without getting on the pitch.

It was particularly unfortunate for Thompson that he was involved on a day when Robinson used the fewest number of substitutes of his ten-match reign - just two.

"My message to Jim is to take any chance he has to play well for Edinburgh.

"He is good enough (to play internationals), a quality player," said Robinson of a player who makes his first appearance of the season for Edinburgh on Saturday at Aironi after knee damage when replacing another Scotland captaincy contender, Chris Paterson, who is currently injured.

On the subject of captains Robinson does not feel that Grant is being hampered by the extra responsibility of skippering Edinburgh as he strives for a place on the Test scene having acted as travelling reserve in Ireland last March. Regarding Greig Laidlaw's aspirations the coach said: "He is competing with Mark McMillan (Bath) for the third (scrum half) spot."