Alasdair Dickinson
Age: 31
Position: Loosehead prop
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 10
Bio: A forceful and effective prop. Scrummages well but also a weapon in open play.
Ryan Grant
Age: 29
Position: Loosehead prop
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 0
Bio: The former British and Irish Lion has had and up and down year. Needs to find some consistency in his game.
Gordon Reid
Age: 28
Position: Loosehead prop
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 0
Bio: Relatively inexperienced for an international level-prop but heart and desire are never in question.
Willem Nel
Age: 29
Position: Tighthead prop
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 0
Bio: The recently-qualified South African should go straight into the Scotland side with his scrummaging abilities solving Vern Cotter's problems at tighthead.
Jon Welsh
Age: 28
Position: Tighthead/Loosehead prop
Club: Newcastle
Test points: 0
Bio: His ability to operate on both side of the scrum make the former Glasgow front-rower a useful option.
Fraser Brown
Age: 26
Position: Hooker
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 0
Bio: A former Scotland youth team captain but he needs to up his standards if he is to push Ross Ford.
Ross Ford
Age: 31
Position: Hooker
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 10
Bio: The Edinburgh man is a Scotland regular whose commitment is never in question. When he keeps his composure, he is a top-class number two.
Stuart McInally
Age: 25
Position: Hooker
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 0
Bio: The back-row convert is a newcomer to the international scene but his versatility makes him an option for Scotland.
Grant Gilchrist
Age: 25
Position: Lock
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 5
Bio: Picked out as a future Scotland captain. Will have a big future if he can dodge the injury troubles that have blighted him recently.
Jonny Gray
Age: 21
Position: Lock
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 5
Bio: Another giant second-rower picked out for big things. Will likely start the tournament alongside his brother.
Richie Gray
Age: 26
Position: Lock
Club: Castres
Test points: 10
Bio: Scotland's blond-haired behemoth is never difficult to pick out on the pitch, either because of his huge frame or his impressive performances
Tim Swinson
Age: 28
Position: Lock
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 0
Bio: The surprise pick of the squad, he will be under pressure to justify his selection.
David Denton
Age: 25
Position: Number eight
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 0
Bio: A dynamic and powerful strike runner who has the potential to be one of Scotland's most potent weapons.
John Hardie
Age: 27
Position: Flanker
Club: Unattached
Test points: 0
Bio: The New Zealand-born flanker only touched down on Scottish soil five weeks ago. His inclusion sparked a row and he will need to shine if there is not to be a prolonged fall-out.
Josh Strauss
Age: 28
Position: Number eight
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 0
Bio: Another controversial pick, with the South African not qualifying through residency rules until five days before the Scots' opener with Japan. Undoubtedly talented though.
Alasdair Strokosch
Age: 32
Position: Flanker
Club: Perpignan
Test points: 44
Bio: A black belt in karate, he is another strong and powerful competitor - key attributes which Cotter looks for in his back-rowers.
Ryan Wilson
Age: 26
Position: Loose forward
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 0
Bio: Has had trouble off the field recently but his adaptability along the back-row won him his place in the World Cup squad.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
Age: 22
Position: Scrum-half
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 0
Bio: The Guinness Pro12 Young Player of the Year. An exciting nine with a promising career ahead of him.
Greig Laidlaw
Age: 29
Position: Scrum-half
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 356
Bio: The Scotland captain is a reliable goal-kicker and experienced campaigner. When he plays with a high tempo, Scotland soar.
Henry Pyrgos
Age: 26
Position: Scrum-half
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 20
Bio: Showed he should not be regarded as Scotland's third-choice scrum-half with an impressive warm-up series.
Finn Russell
Age: 22
Position: Stand-off
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 9
Bio: Stylish, adventurous, exciting. The young fly-half puts the swagger into Scotland. A game changer when he is on form.
Duncan Weir
Age: 24
Position: Stand-off
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 47
Bio: Scored a memorable drop-goal against Italy last year but needs to loosen the shackles if he is to make it at the top level.
Mark Bennett
Age: 22
Position: Centre
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 15
Bio: Tipped to be a Scotland star from a young age, his first eight caps have done nothing to dispel the lofty praise directed his way.
Peter Horne
Age: 25
Position: Centre/Fly-half/Full-back
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 10
Bio: Picked primarily to fill the centre role by Cotter but can operate elsewhere. A very useful tool to have.
Matt Scott
Age: 24
Position: Centre
Club: Edinburgh
Test points: 15
Bio: An old head on young shoulders, the Edinburgh University law student is an inteligent reader of the game.
Richie Vernon
Age: 28
Position: Centre/back-row
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 0
Bio: Another player switched from his former slot in the back-row. Again selected because of his ability to cover more than one position.
Sean Lamont
Age: 34
Position: Wing
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 70
Bio: The evergreen wing may not be the most prolific of scorers but his experience of playing at two World Cups will be invaluable to his team.
Sean Maitland
Age: 26
Position: Wing/Full-back
Club: London Irish
Test points: 10
Bio: A prolific scorer in New Zealand where he grew up, will be another major asset for Scotland if he can stay fit.
Tommy Seymour
Age: 27
Position: Wing
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 30
Bio: Solid in both and an attacking sense, the Tennessee-born Glasgow man has never let his country down.
Tim Visser
Age: 28
Position: Wing
Club: Harlequins
Test points: 45
Bio: Born in Holland but his rapid pace and brute strength give Scotland plenty of reason to believe they will be dangerous down the flanks.
Stuart Hogg
Age: 23
Position: Full-back
Club: Glasgow
Test points: 48
Bio: Probably the only Scotland player who comes close to the world-class bracket. England 2015 is his chance to prove it.
Source: PA
