Williams gives youth a chance

News: Scotland's new coach Matt Williams has put an accent on youth in naming a 34-strong training squad ahead of the Six Nations…

News: Scotland's new coach Matt Williams has put an accent on youth in naming a 34-strong training squad ahead of the Six Nations starting in February.

Williams has brought in Edinburgh outhalf Alistair Warnock, in his first year as a professional, and Borders full back Gareth Morton.

Also included are Borders players Chris Cusiter, who will compete for the reserve scrumhalf berth, hooker Ross Ford and Nikki Walker, who has won three caps but remained redundant in Scotland's dire World Cup campaign.

Former New Zealand captain Todd Blackadder yesterday warned Gregor Townsend he was taking a big risk moving to the Super 12.

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Scotland's most capped player, who recently retired from the international scene, yesterday severed his links with the Borders for a big-money move to the Natal Sharks.

But the national side's new assistant manager does not expect the veteran to have an easy end to his playing career - and he should know, having guided the Canterbury Crusaders to three successive Super 12 titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

"I am sure he will learn from the experience," said Blackadder. "But he's got to make it work. He's got to go there and get in the team first. If he does then he's sure to enjoy it and if you make these decisions then you've got to make them work. Hopefully he can help Scotland in the future."

Williams was equally as gloomy about the move but he hopes it could eventually help the development of the international side when he returns. The Australian wants the influential stand-off to return and pass on his expert knowledge to his young side.

"We both have experience in the Super 12 and it can be really hard," he agreed. "You can be playing in New Zealand one week and Cape Town the next so you have got a competition where you could have 24 hours of travelling.

"Me and Gregor haven't spoke about contracts in the future or anything. I am sure he can come back and put his knowledge into the Scottish game."

Meanwhile, Gloucester's South African World Cup star Thinus Delport is out for the season after suffering serious knee ligament damage. The 28-year-old was hurt during Gloucester's 18-17 victory over Harlequins at Kingsholm in England's Zurich Premiership last Saturday.

He has undergone a knee scan, which revealed damage to the anterior cruciate and medial ligaments.

Full back Delport will have an operation tomorrow on the medial ligament problem, with further surgery in about six weeks' time to rectify the anterior cruciate trouble.

Medical opinion is that he faces a lay-off of between six and nine months, which comes as a major blow to Gloucester's Heineken Cup and Premiership campaigns.

SCOTLAND SQUAD: R Beattie, G Beveridge, M Blair, G Bulloch, A Craig, S Cross, C Cusiter, S Danielli, B Douglas, R Ford, S Grimes, A Henderson, N Hines, B Hinshelwood, A Hogg, A Jacobsen, A Kellock, B Laney, C Mather, G Morton, E Murray, S Murray, D Parks, C Paterson, J Petrie, T Philip, R Russell, C Smith, T Smith, S Taylor, N Walker, A Warnock, S Webster, J White.