Scott and Taylor return to Scotland squad
Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has recalled Gloucester centre Matt Scott to his squad ahead of the Six Nations.
Fellow centre Duncan Taylor, of Saracens, is back after missing the autumn Tests through injury.
Uncapped Edinburgh forwards Simon Berghan and Cornell du Preez but Bath back row David Denton is not fit.
Alasdair Dickinson is also absent through injury, while fellow Edinburgh prop WP Nel is listed but is a doubt with a neck problem.
Nel lasted just 27 minutes of his return from a long injury lay-off at the weekend and is awaiting the results of a scan.
This year’s championship will be New Zealander Cotter’s last in charge of the national side.
He will take over as Montpellier coach this summer and will be replaced by Glasgow Warriors’ Gregor Townsend.
The Scots open their Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland on 4 February before facing France away eight days later.
With Dickinson missing and doubts over Nel, Newcastle front-rower Jon Welsh returns for the first time since the 2015 World Cup.
John Hardie, who started all five matches in last year’s tournament, is another Edinburgh player in Cotter’s plans working his way back to fitness.
Edinburgh lock Ben Toolis is also selected having not appeared since the Six Nations of 2015.
“It’s a well-balanced and exciting group that have played a lot of rugby together, know each other well and are ambitious to do well in a Scotland jersey,” said Cotter.
“I think if we get our mind-set right we can be competitive and push for wins in every game in this campaign.”
Last year, Scotland finished fourth in the championship after victories against Italy and France.
In November’s autumn Tests, the Scots beat Argentina and Georgia after a narrow defeat by Australia.
Source:-Â http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38657245
