EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has added six reinforcements to his squad for the remainder of the November internationals, starting with Saturday’s clash with Fiji at Murrayfield.
Townsend has rung the changes following a disappointing 21-10 loss to Wales in Cardiff at the weekend with a side that was missing a number of regular players as the fixture fell outside of the designated international window.
The England-based pair of loose-forward Josh Strauss and flyhalf Duncan Weir have been included having not been named in the original squad named last month.
Weir has not played for Scotland since March 2017 and will provide competition for France-based Finn Russell and Adam Hastings in the number 10 jersey, with the latter having started against the Welsh.
Also included are the Glasgow Warriors quartet of Adam Ashe (loose-forward), Scott Cummings (lock), Nick Grigg (centre) and Stuart Hogg (full-back).
Flanker Ashe last played for Scotland in 2015 but has been rewarded for good form this season, while Grigg and the experienced Hogg played against Argentina in June. The 21-year-old Cummings will be seeking a first cap.
Prop Gordon Reid, scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw, outside back Sean Maitland, centre Chris Harris and wing Byron McGuigan are also able to link up with the squad this week due to the open international window.
The Scottish Rugby Union confirmed that flank Blade Thomson (head) and centre James Lang (rib) had dropped out of the squad through injury, while flank David Denton and centre Matt Scott are still recovering from head injuries.
Ross Ford (hooker), Henry Pyrgos (scrum-half) and Dougie Fife (wing) have been released back to their club Edinburgh.
After Fiji, Scotland will host South Africa and Argentina on consecutive weekends.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Mark Potter)
