Smith will be ready for World Cup - McGeechan

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan insists Tom Smith is well on the way to recovery from a broken thumb and will be available for the World Cup.

The Lions and Northampton prop suffered the injury in the first warm-up Test against Italy last month.

But McGeechan has no fears that Smith will be ready for the opening game of the tournament against Japan on October 12.

He said: “We couldn’t be happier with Tom’s progress.

“The big cast is now off his hand and he is wearing a lightweight leather covering.

“He is and has been working hard on his general fitness, although he will not be able to be involved in full-on contact training until we arrive in Australia next week.”