Beating Aussies a highlight says Tonks

SCOTLAND full-back Greig Tonks reflected on Saturday’s “incredible” 24-19 victory over Australia as the highlight of his career before turning his attention to next opponents Fiji.

Having been overlooked by national selectors for two years, and not been included in the original summer tour party, Tonks was recalled last month when Sean Maitland got injured.

And he repaid the faith shown by new head coach Gregor Townsend by landing a 48-metre penalty — his first points in Test rugby — to get the scoring under way in Sydney.

“It was incredible. As career highlights go, it will definitely be up there. I would say i t ’s the highlight,” Tonks said.

“The whole week was incredible . I was not originally going to be on the tour and was then selected quite late.

“To be picked, then to be starting, then to kick some points and go on to win the game against Australia was something pretty special. It has got to be up there.”

Part of the reason Tonks had been out of the picture was his move 18 months ago from Edinburgh to London Irish, who were last summer relegated to the second-tier Championship.

“I would not say I was worried but with London Irish being relegated, I knew it would be difficult, really hard, for them to pick somebody who i s playing Championship rugby,” he said.

“We have been training like a Premiership team, though, and now we are a Championship-winning team that is back in the Premiership — that was always the aim.

“I always had it (Scotland) in the back of my mind but my aim was to play my best rugby and then whatever happened happened off the back of it.”

Greig Tonks