With Gregor Townsend due to name his squad for the 2020 Guinness Six Nations next week, we’ve put ourselves in the Scotland Head Coach’s shoes to pick our own squads for the championship.

After a disappointing campaign in 2019, Scotland need to hit the ground running in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations, with a trip to Ireland first up on the first weekend of next month.

Former skippers Greig Laidlaw and John Barclay have both called time on their international careers since the Rugby World Cup; as has prolific try-scoring wing Tommy Seymour.

Scotland will miss their experience, but the gaps left should give youngsters a chance to work their way into Townsend’s plans ahead of the World Cup in France in four years’ time.

Both Editor Gavin Harper (GH) and Assistant Editor George Plevan (GP) have picked squads – limited in size to 35 – ahead of Townsend’s squad announcement on Wednesday.

Here are their squads…

Props

GH: Alex Allan, Jamie Bhatti, Allan Dell; Simon Berghan, Zander Fagerson, WP Nel

Most of the Rugby World Cup contingent return here, with Gordon Reid the only one to drop out. I’ve replaced him with Jamie Bhatti, whose been around the Edinburgh squad for most of the season since his move to the Capital.

Alex Allan recently notched his 100th Glasgow Warriors appearance, and he also comes in to provide depth and cover at loosehead, while in my eyes, Fagerson has now leapfrogged Nel in the battle for the tighthead jersey.

GP: Alex Allan, Jamie Bhatti, Allan Dell; Simon Berghan, Zander Fagerson, WP Nel

Prop is not a position in which Scotland are spoiled for choice, particularly at loosehead, so until the likes of Oli Kebble and Pierre Schoeman become eligible for selection, I think this is the most likely trio, with Allan Dell the front runner for the starting spot.

At tighthead, Fagerson and Nel will no doubt fight it out while Berghan provides the cover from the bench.

Hookers

GH: Fraser Brown, Stuart McInally, George Turner

Again, the same trio that went to Japan, and it’s hard to make a case for anyone else to break into this group. McInally seemed to struggle with the burden of the captaincy at the World Cup, and Brown has been in top form for Glasgow so far this campaign, so he may even take the number two jersey.

GP: Fraser Brown, Dave Cherry, Stuart McInally

For my money, Brown is the in-form hooker so far this season with McInally blowing a little hot and cold but the Edinburgh skipper has always produced his best rugby in a Scotland shirt so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start. While Turner travelled to the World Cup, Edinburgh’s Dave Cherry has been impressive this season, and looked sharp on his return from injury last weekend.

Locks

GH: Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Ben Toolis

Another area of only minor alteration, where I’ve opted to bring Richie Gray back into the squad. He made himself unavailable for the World Cup, but Scotland missed his presence up front and he should be persuaded to come back in now.

If the Gray bros. are the first-choice pairing, Scott Cummings will hope to continue his rise over the last 12 months to put pressure on the Edinburgh duo for the bench role.

GP: Lewis Carmichael, Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray

The big omission here is Ben Toolis, who has looked out-of-sorts this season and struggled to hold down a spot in the Edinburgh team. This sees his 24-year-old club-mate Lewis Carmichael take his place with World Cup trio of Gilchrist, Cummings and Jonny Gray returning to the engine room.

Richie Gray is my joker, as at 30 years old, there are other players more likely to see the next World Cup, but the Toulouse man would give the Scottish pack some added physicality and much needed experience with John Barclay watching from the pundit’s box this Six Nations.

Back-row

GH: Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Ritchie, Blade Thomson, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson

With Barclay now retired, the door should open for Luke Crosbie, who has been outstanding so far this season for Edinburgh. He joins three of his club colleagues in my squad, with Ryan Wilson adding experience and Blade Thomson looking to kick on after an quiet start to his Scotland career.

GP: Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, Matt Fagerson, Jamie Ritchie, Blade Thomson, Hamish Watson

There’s no place for Ryan Wilson in my back-row. The Glasgow Warrior has been an excellent servant for Scotland but, at 30 years old, he’s unlikely to make the next World Cup in 2023 so he makes way for the younger Matt Fagerson, who has been one of Glasgow’s shining lights this season. He’s joined by fellow young guns Magnus Bradbury and Luke Crosbie, while Hamish Watson and Blade Thomson also return to the fold.

The forwards: Allan Dell, Jamie Bhatti, Alex Allan; Zander Fagerson, WP Nel, Simon Berghan; Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Ben Toolis; Magnus Bradbury, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Luke Crosbie, Ryan Wilson, Blade Thomson

Scrum-halves

GH: George Horne, Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos

The retirement of Scotland’s most capped captain of all time has left a gap to fill in the half-back department, with Glasgow pair Ali Price and George Horne likely to compete for the starting shirt.

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne has found a short-term home for himself in France and is looking somewhere close to his best; but I’ve gone for Henry Pyrgos because he’s been involved in the set-up more recently and is there as third choice.

GP: George Horne, Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos

Like Gav, I expect Glasgow duo of George Horne and Ali Price to battle it our for the first-choice number nine slot but the third spot is harder to call.

Edinburgh’s Charlie Shiel has put in some strong showings from the bench this season and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne looks to be finding his feet in France but it’s hard to look past Henry Pyrgos and his more controlled approach, given the liveliness of the other two half-back options.

Stand-offs

GH: Finn Russell, Adam Hastings

No surprises here. Hastings produced his best performances in a Scotland jersey at the World Cup; and he’ll get the chance to back-up Russell, who has been in scintillating form for Racing 92 so far this term.

Duncan Weir is once more the unlucky one to miss out.

GP: Finn Russell, Adam Hastings

Should pragmatism prevail, Worcester’s Duncan Weir would be an excellent option for Scotland. He’s playing some great rugby in the Gallagher Premiership, and his ability to dictate play could stand Scotland in good stead, especially given the departure of one of their best game-managers in Greig Laidlaw.

But that’s never really been Townsend’s way and if the Scotland boss is to continue down his current alley of fast-and-furious rugby – and I think he should – then Finn Russell and Adam Hastings are the obvious choices.

Centres

GH: Rory Hutchinson, Matt Scott, Mark Bennett, Sam Johnson, Duncan Taylor

Eyebrows were raised when Hutchinson missed out on the final World Cup squad, and even more will be raised now if he’s not in the Six Nations selection. He’s been one of the Gallagher Premiership’s outstanding talents this season and merits his place.

The same could be said for Scott and Bennett – rejuvenated in the Edinburgh midfield, while Johnson and Taylor return despite below-par showings in Japan – it’s only 12 months since Johnson was Scotland’s find of the championship.

GP: Rory Hutchinson, Sam Johnson, Matt Scott, Mark Bennett, Chris Harris

With Rory Hutchinson continuing to prove his ability in the Gallagher Premiership, the Northampton Saint takes Duncan Taylor’s spot in my squad. A good distributor and with pace to burn, Hutchinson brings a point of difference to Scotland’s midfield, and his versatility could come in handy if, like last year, the side are hit by injury.

Fit-again duo Matt Scott and Mark Bennett also return to the fold after impressive seasons for Edinburgh, and Glasgow’s Sam Johnson looks to be hitting his stride again after a lack-lustre World Cup. Chris Harris ousts Pete Horne or Huw Jones to the final midfield spot with the former Falcon looking slick for his new club Gloucester.

Back Three

GH: Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Steyn

Darcy Graham enjoyed a breakthrough 12 months in 2019 and that looks set to continue with the Hawick man in pole position to take the position vacated by Seymour’s Test retirement.

Byron McGuigan missed out on the World Cup squad, and misses out again narrowly here to Kyle Steyn, who will benefit from exposure to the squad.

GP: Stuart Hogg, Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Sean Maitland, Kyle Steyn

While his place was all but guaranteed by a rip-roaring 2019, Tommy Seymour’s retirement means Darcy Graham looks set to fill one of the two starting wing berths with veteran finisher Sean Maitland a shoe-in for the other. Glasgow’s Kyle Steyn beats Sale Shark Byron McGuigan to the back-up spot.

At fullback, it’s a no-brainer with Stuart Hogg flying at Exeter Chiefs, and deputy Blair Kinghorn looking equally impressive for Edinburgh.

Gavin Harper’s squad

Forwards: Alex Allan, Jamie Bhatti, Allan Dell; Simon Berghan, Zander Fagerson, WP Nel; Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Ben Toolis; Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Ritchie, Blade Thomson, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson Backs: George Horne, Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos; Finn Russell, Adam Hastings; Rory Hutchinson, Matt Scott, Mark Bennett, Sam Johnson, Duncan Taylor; Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Steyn

George Plevan’s squad

Forwards: Alex Allan, Jamie Bhatti, Allan Dell; Simon Berghan, Zander Fagerson, WP Nel; Lewis Carmichael, Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray; Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, Matt Fagerson, Jamie Ritchie, Blade Thomson, Hamish Watson Backs: George Horne, Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos; Finn Russell, Adam Hastings; Rory Hutchinson, Sam Johnson, Matt Scott, Mark Bennett, Chris Harris; Stuart Hogg, Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Sean Maitland, Kyle Steyn

Image caption: Head Coach Gregor Townsend runs a Scotland training session at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Credit: Fotosport/David Gibson