Jt On Verge Of Scotland Cap

Jim Thompson is on the verge of securing his first cap for Scotland – only two years after he became a professional with Edinburgh Rugby Club.Tommo is one of nine players from the Black and Red army to be named in head coach Andy Robinson’s Scotland team for Saturday’s first Test against Argentina in Tucuman._ Four are in the starting line-up – Nick De Luca, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Jim Hamilton – while joining Thomson on the bench are Geoff Cross, Scott MacLeod, Mike Blair and Phil Godman._ Full details of the team can be found at www.scotlandrugbyteam.org.Jim Thompson – ‘class stamped right through himi’__Thompson, 25, grandson of the late and much loved Voice of Rugby, Bill McLaren, and cousin of scrum-half and former Edinburgh favourite Rory Lawson, joined the pro-ranks from Heriot’s and the National Academy.He has made continuous progress through the representative ranks – the Scotland Club International team, Scotland 7s (who could forget his stamina-sapping courage as he brought off a last-gasp tackle on a Fijian flier to ensure the hosts beat Fiji in the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s a few years ago) and Scotland A.In the A team, under Robinson’s tutelage, Thompson played in all three games in the IRB Nations Cup victory in Bucharest last June.A knee injury restricted his appearances for Edinburgh this season but, suitably refreshed, he showed enough to convince Robinson and his fellow coaches, Gregor Townsend and Graham Steadman, that he was worthy of a place in the tour party.Robinson told www.edinburghrugby.org today: We believe this is an opportunity for us to see Jim Thompson in this environment._ Jim has class stamped right through him in the way he plays – his whole poise.He has performed well when he has played for Edinburgh this year._ He looks a quality player and it’s right to give him an opportunity on this tour.