Scotland pick John Hardie and axe Blair Cowan for Rugby World Cup

• New Zealand-born Hardie has just one Scotland cap to his name• Vern Cotter: ‘There’s a good balance of strength, power and experience’Vern Cotter has confirmed neither Blair Cowan or John Barclay will live out their World Cup dream after controversially axing both from his 31-man squad.Cowan’s omission in particular is a major surprise after the New Zealand-born London Irish forward started all five of the Scots’ matches in this year’s Six Nations. Barclay, meanwhile, ended a near-two year exile from the squad when he was recalled for the warm-up clashes with Ireland and Italy. Continue read…