Tuesday 8 September 2015 08:15, UK
Blair Cowan and John Barclay have both been left out of Scotland's 31-man squad for the upcoming World Cup.
In what may prove a contentious decision, coach Vern Cotter has omitted the flankers and instead selected John Hardie, who only arrived in Scotland five weeks ago from New Zealand.
Hardie has played just 57 minutes of international rugby, having made his debut in Turin against Italy last week.
Josh Strauss is also in the squad, despite the fact the South Africa-born Glasgow No 8 only qualifies for Scotland through residency rules five days before his adopted nation begin their World Cup campaign against Japan on September 23.
Cotter unveiled his squad at Edinburgh University's Old College Quad on Tuesday and Cowan's omission is a major shock after the London Irish man started all five of Scotland's matches in this year's Six Nations.
Barclay's near-two-year international exile ended when he was recalled for warm-up matches against Ireland and Italy and he scored a try during Saturday's 48-7 hammering of the Azzurri but has nonetheless failed to make the final squad, which will continue to be captained by Gloucester scrum-half Greig Laidlaw.
Glasgow lock Rob Harley misses out, with his place taken by Warriors team-mate Tim Swinson, despite the fact he missed the warm-up games through injury.
Ruaridh Jackson, Adam Ashe, Greig Tonks, Jim Hamilton and Hugh Blake are also left behind.
Sean Maitland and Ryan Grant have shaken off injury concerns to claim their places but Alex Dunbar has not been named in the initial squad, as he fights to recover from a knee ligament tear.
Three members of the squad will be playing at their third World Cup in the form of Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and Sean Lamont.
And centre Richie Vernon becomes the first player to be selected for Scotland at a World Cup as both a forward and a back, having made the 2011 squad as a number eight.
Scotland have a final warm-up match against France this Saturday before they face Japan, the United States, South Africa and Samoa in Pool B at the World Cup.
Cotter said: "There's a good balance of strength, power and experience in this squad. The boys have worked hard to get there and I know they can't wait to get started.
"We've had a tough few months together but we knew right from the start that it was 46 to be cut to 31, and it wasn't easy.
"But (the players left out) have helped this group move forward and they will always be a part of it."
Scotland World Cup squad
Forwards: David Denton, John Hardie, Josh Strauss, Alasdair Strokosch, Ryan Wilson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Stuart McInally, Alasdair Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh.
Backs: Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Matt Scott, Richie Vernon, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Stuart Hogg, Greig Laidlaw, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Henry Pyrgos.
