Metcalfe back in Scotland frame

Ian McGeechan, the Scotland coach, has welcomed back Glenn Metcalfe to his squad for the rearranged Six Nations match against Ireland.

The original fixture was postponed in April due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak and the break has allowed the Glasgow Warriors full-back to return to full fitness. He has been out with a long-term heel injury, which he picked up on the first game of the 2000 tour to New Zealand.

The recall gives Metcalfe the possibility of a first Test cap since the Calcutta Cup win over England in April last year.

McGeechan has also handed a debut to Roland Reid, who has impressed in his loose-forward role with Glasgow this season.

The Scotland coach has named Budge Pountney as captain, leaving a question mark over whether Andy Nicol or Bryan Redpath will take the scrum-half berth at Murrayfield a week on Saturday.

McGeechan insists his choice of captain was designed to link the forwards and the backs.

"Budge was captain last year and I think it is important that we now have, if we can, a captain in one of those positions that can have an effect, particularly on the forwards, but with good links with the backs as well," McGeechan said.

SCOTLAND SQUAD (v Ireland, Six Nations' Championship, Murrayfield, 22 September): D Hodge (Edinburgh), J Leslie (Northampton), K Logan (Wasps), J McLaren (Glasgow), G Metcalfe (Glasgow), C Murray (Edinburgh), A Nicol (Glasgow), C Paterson (Edinburgh), B Redpath (Sale), R Reid (Glasgow), J Steel (Glasgow), G Townsend (Castres); G Bulloch (Glasgow), G Graham (Newcastle), S Grimes (Newcastle), M Leslie (Edinburgh), S Murray (Saracens), J Petrie (Glasgow), B Pontney (Northampton), S Scott (Edinburgh), G Simpson (Glasgow), T Smith (Northampton), M Stewart (Northampton), S Taylor (Edinburgh), J White (Glasgow).