 Webster is one of 10 full internationals in Scotland's A team to face USA |
Scotland boss Frank Hadden has hit back defiantly at claims he is going against the spirit of the Churchill Cup by fielding too strong a team. Hadden has picked 10 full caps to face the USA on Wednesday, drawing criticism from USA Rugby chief Nigel Melville.
"I thought this was meant to be a development tournament, but obviously not," said the former England player.
But Hadden responded: "Our A team are playing minus 26 players who are being rested ahead of the World Cup."
He added: "If anything, we are two players weaker than we were last season. Last year, our A team played minus 24 players who were touring South Africa with Scotland."
Melville, who is chief executive of USA Rugby, expressed surprise that the likes of full internationals Simon Webster and Rory Lawson were in the Scotland A line-up.
"If Scotland feel this is the best way to approach the competition then that's what they'll do, but it stops other people having a go, creating less depth for the national set-up," said the former scrum-half.
"What we're doing is take a look at various players and now we have a squad of 35 who will be used throughout this tournament."
The Churchill Cup is for the A sides of England, Ireland and Scotland, with the USA, Canada and New Zealand Maori fielding their strongest available teams.
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