Toony’s 1st Test a Sing of beauty
GREGOR TOWNSEND is excited to be bringing his Scotland side to Singapore for the first top-tier Test match to be played there.
The Scots take on Italy at the National Stadium in Kallang on Saturday as they both begin summer tours which also include fixtures against Australia and Fiji.
Saturday’s game should be a unique experience, with a crowd of between 10,000 and 20,000 expected to take up the opportunity to watch a high-level contest.
And coach Toony said: “For our players it was exciting to tell them that we were to be part of the first international 15-a-side game to be played here.
“The first game of a tour is always one you’re building up to and I’m excited. We’ve had three weeks of camp, which was a bonus, and have used that time productively.
“I’ve enjoyed it, as have the other new coaches. We are fortunate with the group of players we have, they work hard, have got a lot of confidence from the last two seasons and are desperate to build on that.”
The location is only part of the novelty for Townsend, who will be taking charge of Scotland for the first time.
He said: “It still feels a bit unreal arriving for my first Test match in Singapore. But from a coaching perspective the last three weeks have been real.
“It has started. You put a game plan together, you’re working with the players and getting to know some. You have the tracksuit on.”