Scotland trim squad for Tests

Scotland's development tour officially ended yesterday when eight players were sent home and a trimmed-down squad began fierce preparations for the first Test match against Australia on Sunday.

Scotland's development tour officially ended yesterday when eight players were sent home and a trimmed-down squad began fierce preparations for the first Test match against Australia on Sunday.

A high-intensity training session ended with the prop Tom Smith icing his thigh and the full-back Hugo Southwell requiring stitches to a head wound.

Earlier, the Scotland coach Matt Williams finalised the eight players who would leave the tour. The Newcastle lock Craig Hamilton just got the nod to stay in Australia over Edinburgh's Alastair Kellock, while three of those called in as late replacements - prop Colin Noon, centre Matt Dey and scrum-half Rory Lawson - flew home.

The rest of the eight-man party was made up of injured players, with Scott MacLeod (calf) joined on the flight by Simon Danielli (back), Stephen Cranston (knee and ankle) and Allan Jacobson (shoulder).