Josh Strauss, WP Nel back for Scotland

Cape Town - Gregor Townsend has recalled No 8 Josh Strauss and tighthead WP Nel to the Scotland training squad for next weekend’s Six Nations match against England.

Nel returns after breaking his arm against Samoa in November while Strauss receives a call-up having previously been out of favour this season.

Tim Visser, Matt Scott, James Malcolm and Tim Swinson also come in as Townsend made six changes to the group.

The new additions replace centre Duncan Taylor (head) and lock Richie Gray (calf), who are yet to recover sufficiently to join the squad in camp, as well as Magnus Bradbury, Nathan Fowles, Murray McCallum and D’Arcy Rae who drop out of the squad.

Lee Jones and Neil Cochrane will remain with their clubs to complete the graduated return to play protocols after sustaining head injuries at the weekend.

Uncapped Edinburgh duo Charlie Shiel and Darcy Graham are also invited to train with the squad on Monday and Tuesday.

Scotland Six Nations squad:

BACKS (16)

Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby), Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby), Greig Laidlaw (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Gloucester), Tim Visser (Harlequins)

FORWARDS (20)

John Barclay captain (Scarlets), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), David Denton (Worcester Warriors), Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh Rugby), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Luke Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), James Malcolm (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby), Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), Gordon Reid (London Irish), Josh Strauss (Sale Sharks), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)