Six Nations: Pountney returns - but not as skipper

Scotland back row forward Budge Pountney will return for Scotland in the Lloyds TSB Six Nations clash with Ireland - but he will not be handed back the captain’s armband.

Pountney has been named in Ian McGeechan’s squad to face the Irish at Lansdowne Road on March 2 but Bryan Redpath retains the captaincy after leading the Scots to victory in Italy.

Pountney missed the win against Italy with an abdominal injury but will play for his club Northampton this weekend.

McGeechan insisted ‘‘continuity’’ had been the key to his decision in keeping Redpath as skipper.

But there is no place in the 22-man squad for Andrew Mower who made his first Six Nations start against the Italians in place of Pountney.

Fringe players Nathan Hines and Craig Smith also drop out of the squad and are set for A team duty in Ireland.