Matthews backed to shine JOHNNY BE GOOD

JOHN DALZIEL is adamant new boy Johnny Matthews will be the perfect deputy after Scotland's World Cup hooker curse continued.

- ANTHONY BROWN

It was announced on Sunday night after the bonus-point 45-17 win over Tonga - that Edinburgh forward Stuart McInally was heading home with a neck problem - less than a fortnight after being called up when Dave Cherry departed due to concussion.

Yesterday the 33-year-old announced he was retiring from the sport, admitting hed "lived the dream".

It's a shock but, in addition to McInally and Cherry, the issues in the specialised position were then compounded by the fact Ewan Ashman was unable to be involved against South Africa after getting concussed in the build-up, while Fraser Brown would have come into contention if not for the ACL injury he suffered at the end of last season.

First-choice George Turner is the only hooker who has stayed injury-free throughout the World Cup training camp and tournament itself, meaning coaches have had to draw on their depth of options for the specialised position.

Forwards coach Dalziel said: "When we were picking the hookers initially, there were a lot of names in consideration.