Ross Ford

Injury to Jerry Flannery afforded the 25-year-old Ford the opportunity to make his mark. The Edinburgh player featured in all five of Scotland's Six Nations matches this year and enjoyed a successful season at club level, finishing strongly to snatch second in the Magners League.

Like Flannery, Ford is a mobile frontrow, having begun his career as a flanker before switching to hooker during his time at Border Reivers.

Poor darts placed him down the pecking order but management were impressed by his high volume of rucks and tackles, and a la Gordon Bulloch four years ago, his appearance prevented the Scots from having no representative in a Test series for the first time ever.