Analysis: 'Cherry selection a gobsmacking move'

The selection of Dave Cherry, uncapped since September 2023, for Scotland's Six Nations opener against Italy is a gobsmacking move from Gregor Townsend.

Cherry fell down the stairs of the Scotland team hotel in Nice during the World Cup, invalided himself out of the tournament and hasn't been seen since in the Test arena. Now he starts ahead of Ewan Ashman.

He's a solid operator, a good lineout thrower, a decent physical presence, but his inclusion is still a shock. He has rarely suggested he is a frontline Six Nations hooker.

Townsend has gone with a failing Edinburgh team's second and, occasionally, third-choice hooker ahead of Johnny Matthews, winner of the URC with Glasgow.

Matthews, of course, is not in the squad at all. Dylan Richardson, second choice during the autumn, is injured. It's all getting a bit surreal.

Darcy Graham makes a long-awaited return to championship rugby having, incredibly, not played a Six Nations game since March 2022. Stafford McDowall is at 12, as expected.

Jack Dempsey, undercooked, is on the bench for impact. Jonny Gray, also undercooked, starts.

Gray hasn't played in six weeks and has only had three games since the end of October. Where a few weeks ago all was well with this squad, now it's looking uncertain in too many areas.