Scots name four debutants

 

Scrumhalf Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22-year-old forwards Ben Toolis (lock) and Hugh Blake (loose forward), and 24-year-old loose forward Hamish Watson, who all play for Edinburgh, are the uncapped players inn the squad.

 

There is once again no place in the squad for experience loose forwards John Barclay and Kelly Brown.

 

Besides the new caps, there are seven other Edinburgh players, with Greig Tonks, who made his debut on the 2013 summer tour, selected for the first time since his positional switch to flyhalf from fullback. 

 

Centre Matt Scott also returns to the squad after injury.

 

Glasgow contribute 15 players to the squad, including eight backs. Exciting centre Mark Bennett is back after injury ruled him out of the final two November internationals.

 

Among those unavailable through injury are Cotter's first captain Grant Gilchrist, Adam Ashe, who was first-choice No.8 in November, and flyhalf Duncan Weir.

 

Of the new caps, Cotter said: "They have impressed me with their desire to go forward, and reflect the Scottish spirit of attacking and leading, to develop into impressive performers."

 

"We are approaching this Six Nations looking to perform and develop," he continued. "It will be a great process for us and I know the players are looking forward to it.

 

"Obviously we'll be facing some very good sides, four of which are above us in the world rankings, however we have nothing to hide going into this year.

 

"We start with a very difficult game against France in Paris and we will prepare as best as possible for that game and adapt as the competition evolves.

 

"Every time they pull on the jersey they will want to express themselves fully, so it's with excitement that we look to the Six Nations, because we want to see how far we can compete, how well we can adapt, and how well we can equip ourselves in this very tough competition.

 

"I'm very confident that the players selected will underline the improvements we showed in the autumn as well as some others as the group continues to come together.

 

"We were all affected so positively by the support during the November Tests, which really lifted the players and made them so proud to pull on the shirt and play here at Murrayfield. 

 

"It's a great challenge."

 

Scotland squad: Hugh Blake, Fraser Brown, Blair Cowan, Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Ross Ford, Jim Hamilton, Rob Harley, Euan Murray, Gordon Reid, Alasdair Strokosch, Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson, Jon Welsh, Mark Bennett, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Alex Dunbar, Dougie Fife, Stuart Hogg, Peter Horne, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Matt Scott, Tommy Seymour, Greig Tonks, Tim Visser.