RWC SCOTLAND 2 BEST PLAYERS ABSENT AGAINST SA

If Scotland win one of the remaining matches, they qualify for the quarter finals. The harder match, on paper, is against the Springboks. It is very likely to be attritional. Yet, the squad, and the Scottish people, would no doubt like to have a reasonable go at the South Africans.

Therefore, Cotter has picked a side which saves his most prized assets – Mark Bennett, John Hardie – to seal qualification next week. At the same time, he picks a handful of players – Gordon Reid in the front-row, Richie Vernon at 13- who the Springboks will know very little about. The thinking is clear-headed and pragmatic.