BBC’s Tom English answers your Scottish rugby questions

BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English has been answering your Scottish rugby questions.

Alasdair asked: Is hooker a worry for Scotland? Ewan Ashman is fine in the loose but lineout not brilliant yet, and Edinburgh were a bit error prone against Bayonne until the Darcy show started.

Tom answered: It’s a slight concern in that there’s Ashman, who’s not exactly a seasoned Test operator, plus a lot of really inexperienced players behind him. They’re talented, mind you. Dylan Richardson and Gregor Hiddleston are fine young players who should develop into really good Test players. It’ll be fascinating to see how they progress.

Johnny Matthews doesn’t seem to be cutting through with Gregor Townsend and his coaches. The lineout is a concern, but that’s not always on the hooker.

Lineouts are such complex things now that every part of your drill has to be spot on and, at Test level, you’re dealing with world-class players trying to get into your lineout. It’s not easy. for anybody. I have faith in Ashman.

James asked: With Tom Jordan off next seaso, they must be in the market for another 10, especially given Adam Hastings’ injury woes. Is it time for Finn Russell to return to Scotstoun? He surely has more chances of silverware with Warriors despite Bath’s good form in the Prem.

Tom answered: Russell to return to Scotstoun would be the rugby story of the millennium. He’s on close to a million a year at Bath, so it won’t be happening.

Jordan is going to be a huge loss, He’s exceptional in three different positions and Glasgow really, really messed up on this one. They had to keep him.

So, another 10 is needed. Duncan Weir continues to do a stellar job but he can’t go on forever. Hastings is jinxed and my heart goes out to him. A 10 will be high on the priority list, but unless the recent Euromillions winner is a Warriors fan then it won’t be Russell.