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Scotland mix youth with experience for Six Nations

Scotland coach Vern Cotter picks a squad with both youth and experience for the Six Nations.

Scotland coach Vern Cotter has blended youth with experience in his squad for the Six Nations.

Four uncapped players from Edinburgh Rugby have been included in the 32-man party, while there are also a total of 15 Glasgow Warriors players in the setup.

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Ben Toolis, Hugh Blake and Hamish Watson have all been included for the first time.

Blake's inclusion has caused some surprise, with the New Zealand-born 22-year-old yet to play a match for his new club following a move from Otago Highlanders.

Meanwhile, Matt Scott, Mark Bennett and Jon Welsh are all recalled following spells on the sidelines through injury. Mainstays such as Greig Laidlaw, Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland also feature.

"We are approaching this Six Nations looking to perform and develop," Cotter told the Scottish Rugby Union's official website. "It will be a great process for us and I know the players are looking forward to it.

"Obviously we'll be facing some very good sides, four of which are above us in the world rankings, however we have nothing to hide going into this year."

Scotland get their Six Nations campaign underway away to France on February 7.

Scotland squad for Six Nations:

Forwards: Hugh Blake (Edinburgh Rugby), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan, Geoff Cross (both London Irish), David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Rob Harley, Euan Murray, Gordon Reid (all Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson (both Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors)

Backs: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar, (Glasgow Warriors) Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Peter Horne (both Glasgow Warriors) Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell (all Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Tonks, Tim Visser (both Edinburgh Rugby)

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Jack Prescott
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Scotland's player Matt Scott runs to score a try during the Scotland-Italy match, the first match of the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Loftus Satdium in Pretoria on June 22, 2013
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