Flying Scotsmen give Townsend puzzle to solve
Newcomers make team selection for Australia clash difficult for coach after super showing
GREGOR TOWNSEND could hardly have hoped for a happier start to Scotland’s Autumn Nations Series than Saturday’s 10-try dissection of Tonga. Just about everything that could go right did go right in the 60-14 home win – no small feat given the fact that eight players were making their Test debuts.
The success of those newcomers will make selection a tricky issue for the head coach as he looks forward to the visit of Australia to BT Murrayfield on Sunday, especially as he will have his England- and Francebased players available this time.
However, no matter who Townsend picks to play against the Wallabies, he will warn his team that they will face a much harder afternoon in defence than they did against the Tongans.
“Everyone knows this is a really tough challenge we have on Sunday,” he said. “Australia are the No.3 team in the world and they deserve to be there. They play an open style of rugby, which is great to watch, but it’s obviously going to be a real challenge for us from a defensive side of it. We’ve had three or four really competitive games against Australia in recent years so we know it’s going to be a really competitive match.”
Captain Stuart Hogg and stand-off Finn Russell are two of the players who are most likely to return to the starting line-up after missing out on Saturday as the match fell outside the international window. But other senior names may be in for closer calls. If Townsend brings back Lions winger Duhan van der Merwe, for instance, who does he leave out?
Rufus McLean, who scored Scotland’s opening two tries to give further proof of his exceptional talent? Kyle Steyn, who scored four tries? Or Darcy Graham, who after playing at full-back on Saturday should again be in contention for a place on the wing?
The match against Tonga showed that there are several areas of the team where competition for places is now as intense as it has ever been, as Townsend himself accepted.
“There are certain positions, winger for example, where that’s 100 per cent correct,” he continued.
“We had three wingers against Tonga – one at fullback – who played really well. We’ve been without Sean Maitland, over 50 caps, Byron McGuigan, who has done really well for us; Duhan van der Merwe. So that’s a position that’s really evolved for us.”
However, he also pointed out that there are other departments where one or two injuries can still expose a concerning lack of depth.
“Your strength in depth is tested by injury and we seem to have picked up a number of injuries in the second row. That’s an area where players have to step up. But I do think we have more players capable of playing at Test level, but so do a number of other teams.”
Scotland were especially impressive in attack against Tonga, and while McLean and Steyn led the way, the forwards also chipped in well, with the other tries coming from Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Nick Haining and Oli Kebble.
Three conversions from Blair Kinghorn and two by Ross Thompson completed the scoring from the home side, while David Lolohea claimed the Tongans’ solitary try, and James Faiva added three penalties.
Scotland conceded nine penalties, not unduly high but still an area of concern for Townsend, who knows the Wallabies will exploit any defensive lapses from his team far more ruthlessly than Tonga were able to do.
Having said that, the coach was impressed by some aspects of the visitors’ play.
“We were aware Tonga didn’t have their full squad available, but I thought they played some good rugby,” he said. “They showed they should be a growing team over the next few years.”
Like Scotland, the Tongan squad will welcome some reinforcements this week, as they look ahead to what is sure to be another severe test of their abilities, a match against England on Saturday.
Grant Doorey, their acting head coach, said a lot of
work would be done on the organisational side of their game, especially in defence.
“Clearly we had some challenges, especially in the first half, around our defensive organisation and connection,” he said. “Scotland scored a couple of set-piece tries, so that will be a focus area.
“But we will also be working hard to look at the positives. There was a lot of good energy. At times we looked really good with ball in hand; we were able to put pressure on Scotland in different parts of the field.
“But we didn’t manage position and territory, so those position and territory aspects will be absolutely fundamental against England.
“Clearly, we’ll have to work hard on our defensive side of the game to prepare for England.”