EDINBURGH - Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist is the new captain of Scotland, getting the nod from coach Vern Cotter on Monday when he named a 33-man squad for the autumn internationals.
Scotland's lock Grant Gilchrist (C) holds the ICBC Cup while his teammates spray champagne after a friendly against Argentina in Cordoba, Argentina, on June 20, 2014
Gilchrist twice skippered his country in the summer, and he has been given a vote of confidence by the New Zealander for next month's Test matches against Argentina, New Zealand and Tonga.
He is joined in the squad by five of his Edinburgh team-mates boosted by their impressive 15-13 win at French Top-14 side Bordeaux-Begles in the Challenge Cup on Friday.
But it is Glasgow Warriors, who hammered Bath 37-10 at home in the Champions Cup on Saturday, that account for 17 of the players selected.
Mark Bennett scored two tries as the Warriors mauled their premiership opponents and he is the only uncapped player included.
Former Clermont Auvergne coach Cotter took over as Scotland coach with three consecutive wins over the United States, Canada and Argentina in June.
But the Scots then slumped to a heavy 55-6 defeat against South Africa in Port Elizabeth last time out.
Cotter will be looking for signs of development this autumn, with a rematch against the Pumas at Murrayfield on November 8.
They then face the might of the All Blacks a week later at the same venue and then finish up against Tonga at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, on November 22.
Cotter will have been boosted by the strong form of both Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as signs that Greig Laidlaw is finding his feet at Gloucester after moving to the English side in the summer.
"We want to develop, and impose, our style, will, and strategy on our opposition. We want to play well, and enjoy playing in front of our home crowd," he told the official Scottish Rugby website.
"Argentina will offer us a very stern test, especially at scrum time. They have good variety and move the ball well from nine, through the middle of the paddock and out the back.
"The All Blacks have just won the Rugby Championship and are the best team in the world, so we'll have to be on our toes."
He added: "Tonga will be the final big test psychologically, having come through two big games, to play away from Murrayfield, and needing to put in a good performance at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock.
"It's essential that we show maturity, mental strength and adaptability throughout the series."