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Laidlaw returns to captain Scotland

Scotland's Greig Laidlaw trains during the Captain's run at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis near Paris February 6, 2015. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

LONDON (Reuters) - Scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw will return to captain Scotland after coach Vern Cotter named his squad on Tuesday for the World Cup warm-up match against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday. Laidlaw missed the recent defeat by Ireland and last week's win over Italy as Cotter picked experimental line-ups. Fullback Stuart Hogg and flyhalf Finn Russell also return to the squad along with centre Mark Bennett and winger Tommy Seymour. Lock Grant Gilchrist was included after missing the 16-12 victory over Italy due to illness and second row Jonny Gray is in line to play his first World Cup warm-up. Cotter will name his 31-man squad for the tournament in England and Wales after the Italy match. Scotland play their opening World Cup game against Japan on Sept. 23. Forwards: John Barclay, Fraser Brown, Blair Cowan, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Robert Harley, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel, Ryan Wilson, Gordon Reid, Jon Welsh Backs: Mark Bennett, Stuart Hogg, Peter Horne, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Lamont, Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos, Tommy Seymour, Greig Tonks, Matt Scott, Tim Visser (Reporting by Ed Osmond, editing by Tony Jimenez)