Keenan and Kinghorn are enjoying leading from the back
“Wanted to get out of my comfort zone”
THE backfield will be well patrolled this evening.
Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn are two of the safest pair of hands in the business.
Arguably the two best fullbacks in the northern hemisphere, both have become firm fixtures in their respective sides. Defensively, they provide so much security. Both are adept under the high ball and have that innate instinct when it comes to filling space and anticipating where the opposition are going to kick the ball. They just inspire confidence in their teammates.
The pair, as it happens, are both 27 as well. And they provide no shortage of thrust and pace when they switch into attack mode. Keenan has scored 12 tries in 39 appearances while his Scottish counterpart has bagged 14 tries in 56 Test matches. A pair of all rounders.
The similarities don’t end there, however. Neither were flagged as superstars at underage level. Keenan’s route to the top is a well-worn tale at this stage. Many viewed the former Sevens players as a solid, hard-working wing. He would make the full-back slot his own during the pandemic and has become one of Andy Farrell’s most trusted lieutenants.
Kinghorn, meanwhile, was a victim of his own versatility for a long time. He featured at wing, full-back and out-half for his club Edinburgh and he flitted between the No10 and No15 spots with his country as well. He could never quite unseat Stuart Hogg or Finn Russell in the starting line-up. When Hogg retired last year, Kinghorn seized his chance and he has become a Scottish frontliner over the past 12 months.
His tall frame, pace and brilliant passing game makes him a real danger to Ireland’s Six Nations title ambitions this evening.
It’s been a whirlwind year for the Scot. Last season, he completed a shock mid-season transfer to Toulouse. The French heavyweights were in the market for a top-class fullback after French international Melvyn Jaminet agreed to join Toulon.
After negotiating a ‘six-figure release fee’ with Edinburgh, Kinghorn was off to join a heavyweight of the European game. Suffice to say, he has settled in well. He bagged a brace on his club debut in a 52-7 rout of Cardiff in the Champions Cup.
Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos is doing his game no harm either.
Kinghorn is an ambitious character and he felt a move to France would help his performances reach another level. Of course, Scottish players aren’t hindered by the same ruling on playing overseas. Gregor Townsend is free to select players who ply their trade outside of Scotland. You’d wonder how many big French clubs would be in for Keenan if the IRFU ever relaxed its rules on selecting players based abroad.
Kinghorn certainly feels that linking up with Toulouse was a smart move.
‘I obviously want to win stuff in my career and I’ve not been able to do that so far, so being able to come to such a great club with such great players, having the ability to win trophies is definitely at the front of my mind,’ he said last year. ‘I’ve spent my whole career in Scotland, in Edinburgh, so there’s parts of me that wanted to get out of my comfort zone a bit, experience something new, because sometimes you can get a bit comfy and maybe don’t work as hard.
‘Certainly moving to a new club where you don’t have any reputation, to try to prove yourself again, and develop as a player, take the next step in my career. It’s exciting and it’s nerve-wracking. It’s the first time I’ve been away from home, first time I’ve been the new kid at a club, so it’s a good challenge for me I reckon.’
After missing the first two rounds with a knee injury, Kinghorn has been making up for lost time in this championship. As it happens, Keenan has ben playing a bit of catchup as well, with a knee injury ruling him out of the thirdround victory against Wales.
His return for Twickenham was a significant boost for Ireland. Farrell is usually fairly cautious in his public appraisal of players but he was effusive about Keenan after the Leinster full-back had been passed fit.
‘I think it would be a boost for any side in world rugby,’ the Ireland boss stated.
‘He’s a world-class full-back. It’s testament to him and it’s no shock to us that he’s been able to get himself back to this position to be involved this weekend as he’s been unbelievably diligent over the last few weeks to make that happen.’
This battle looks pretty even. Two class acts who rarely put a foot wrong.