Hall hoping to retain his place

Hooker Dougie Hall is hoping Scotland’s sensational Calcutta Cup win over England will be enough to see him retain his place for the Six Nations clash with Ireland.

Coach Frank Hadden, who is to name his team today for Saturday’s match, has opted for what he has described as a “horses-for-courses” approach to the position, seeking the right blend in the front row and in the misfiring line-outs.

Hall started the victory over France on the opening weekend of the championship before dropping out of the squad completely for the Wales game in favour of Glasgow’s Scott Lawson, with the Borders’ Ross Ford on the bench.

But the 25-year-old Edinburgh Gunner was back in the starting line-up for the exhilarating 18-12 triumph over England. Ford’s knee injury means it is a straight duel between Hall and Lawson for the number-two jersey in Dublin.

Hall is hoping he did enough against the English to win it, even if the line-outs did not go according to plan yet again for the Scots.

He said: “The hooker selection during the championship has helped keep me on my toes, because you are wondering: ‘What’s going to happen for this game?’”