Mr Versatile Taylor-made for Townsend
THE Scotland players had just finished their morning training session when news came through that Stuart Hogg, their team-mate, had just been ruled out of the British & Irish Lions tour with the injury he picked up last weekend. You could see how disappointed they were.
“Everybody is gutted,” was the response from Duncan Taylor, the Saracen who took Hogg’s 15 jersey last weekend. “He is a great player and a big loss to the Lions. There are not many players like him in the world. All we can do is wish him all the best for his recovery.”
For Taylor himself, the Lions were never a realistic prospect after a season wrecked by two ankle operations, a shoulder problem, a hamstring issue and the after-effects of a head knock.
He may have the satisfaction of a European Champions Cup winners medal, but he didn’t play any international rugby at all and managed only five games all season.
“I made my peace with it a long time ago. Without having played any international stuff I didn’t feel I deserved to be there,” he admitted.
Which is not to suggest he is short of ambition. His task is to cement a place in the Scotland side, though exactly were he will fit in under Gregor Townsend’s coaching is hard to say.
He is wary of the risk of being the perfect benchman, able to cover a multitude of positions.
“That can happen but it’s not something I worry about too much,” Taylor said. “I just want to give it my all in whatever position I play and make a positive impact. If I’m on the bench, I’m on the bench; if I’m starting I’m starting.
“It’s not necessarily about trying different positions, it’s just that if the team need you there, for whatever reason, then you fill in. I’m more than happy to play across the backline. It doesn’t really bother me where I’m playing.”
Full-back is not the long-term answer; Hogg and Sean Maitland are going to slot in there when fit. Centre is where Saracens play him, but the competition is just as hot there – Alex Dunbar and Matt Scott started last Saturday against Italy, with Peter Horne covering the whole midfield from the bench. Nick Grigg was in the stands, while Huw Jones and Mark Bennett are injured.
Yet, as last Saturday showed, Taylor is a player of international pedigree, the trouble is trying to find the best spot for him.
This weekend may provide some answers. Though he impressed against Italy, Australia are going to be a totally different proposition.
They will try to exploit his positional inexperience with their kicking game and he can expect an aerial bombardment with the Australian wings and Israel Folau, his opposite number, in hot pursuit.
“I expect them to run quite a bit,” Taylor added. “Their first-phase moves are very good and they have very talented individuals.”