Toony hints he’ll hand Hogg Scotland spot
IT was pretty much votes of confidence all round as Gregor Townsend unveiled his first NatWest Six Nations Championship squad.
Vote of confidence in the players who gave him a promising November: check. Vote of confidence in players who have delivered for Scotland but are short of game time: check. Vote of confidence in the old stages recalled for a last hurrah: check. Vote of confidence in the young and untested: check.
The reality is that in naming a 40-man squad including the likes of Greig Laidlaw and Stuart Hogg, who have yet to play since their injuries, but also including four uncapped players, especially exciting Edinburgh full-back Blair Kinghorn, Townsend has covered as many bases as he could.
As has been the running theme of the season so far, there are plenty of unlikely faces in the front-row selection. Some, like D’Arcy Rae and Murray McCallum are two uncapped youngsters who may have to be thrown in early.
Others come from the ranks of the almost-forgotten – Jon Welsh has not been seen in Scotland colours since the incorrect penalty against him handed Australia their Rugby World Cup quarter final win; Scott Lawson, his Newcastle Falcons teammate has not been seen since since Vern Cotter’s first tour in 2014.
With games to be played this weekend and, as a result, injuries on the cards, Townsend is some way short of picking his team for the opening game against Wales in Cardiff, but did admit he has the core sketched out in his mind.
Stuart Hogg seems certain to fill one of those places, whether he plays this weekend – Glasgow Warriors’ final match before the Six Nations break – or not. “We don’t see any issues with him getting back to full fitness. His first game after being out since the Lions was against Leinster and he was outstanding. The following week he played very well against Samoa,” Townsend pointed out.
“We’ll have two weeks’ build-up to that Wales game that will include some very tough sessions. So for guys like Stuart, Greig Laidlaw, Ryan Wilson, Tommy Seymour, it will be a chance for them to prove they are fit.”