By Matt Findlay

In what many consider the most exciting pool of the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC) outside the Wallabies’ pool of death, Scotland is one of four sides in pool B considered a strong chance to progress.

Outside South Africa, considered specials for the quarter-finals, Scotland, Japan, USA and Manu Samoa are set to provide some desperate, enterprising rugby in their respective bids to progress.

Scottish head coach Vern Cotter is certain he’s picked the perfect 31-man squad to do just that.

Like most of the RWC squads, Cotter caused some controversy with the release of his squad, naming back-rower Josh Strauss despite the fact he still hasn’t qualified for Scottish selection.

The Glasgow captain qualifies under residential grounds on Saturday, September 19, a day after the RWC starts and just four days before Scotland’s first game against Japan.

Outside Strauss’ selection, Cotter named a reasonably experienced squad of 17 forwards and 14 backs, including Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and Sean Lamont – returning for their third RWC – and Richie Gray, Alasdair Strokosch and Richie Vernon – playing in their second.

“We have two games in four days followed by South Africa and Samoa, so we need to be robust and covered in both forwards and backs, while knowing we have players in the group who can play several positions,” Cotter said.

“We’ll now concentrate our efforts on this group to fine tune a couple of things in detail. There are fine margins in this sport at this level so we have to make sure we have got everything ticked off as best as possible, through our organisation, our work-rate and a raft of other details that we’ll work through methodically.”

PLAYER TO WATCH – Richie Vernon (centre)

England 2015 marks Vernon’s second RWC, and the completion of his transformation from back-rower to centre – in fact he’s the first player to be selected for Scotland in a RWC as both a back and a forward, after his showing in 2011 at No.8.

Making the switch 18 months ago, Vernon has warmed into the back-line quite well, moulding himself as a ball-running centre.

At six foot five, there’s no surprise Vernon is a handful with the ball in hand, although many question his pace and positional play, particularly defensively, giving him a point to prove.

SQUAD

Forwards: Alasdair Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh, Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Stuart McInally, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, David Denton, John Hardie, Josh Strauss, Alasdair Strokosch, Ryan Wilson.

Backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Greig Laidlaw (captain), Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Matt Scott, Richie Vernon, Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg.

FIXTURES:

Wednesday, September 23: vs Japan; Kingsholm, Gloucester; 2.30pm

Sunday, September 27: vs USA; Elland Road, Leeds; 2.30pm

Saturday, October 3: vs South Africa; St James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne; 4.45pm

Saturday, October 10: vs Samoa; St James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne; 2.30pm