Townsend hopes his Lions can hunt down the Wallabies
Scotland bring experience back in for Test at Murrayfield, although Graham keeps his spot
GREGOR TOWNSEND has added 187 caps’ worth of experience to the Scotland starting XV which hammered Tonga last weekend, ahead of this Sunday’s step up in class against Australia.
With England- and Francebased players available for this weekend’s contest, the head coach has been able to add four Lions tourists from the summer to his backline, with captain Stuart Hogg coming in at fullback, Duhan van der Merwe on the left wing, Chris Harris at centre and Finn Russell handed the No.10 jersey.
In the pack, Sam Skinner also comes into a new-look second row, where he will link up with Edinburgh’s Grant Gilchrist, who was rested last week.
Several players who delivered all that was asked of them against Tonga will be disappointed to miss out, particularly last week’s wingers. Kyle Steyn is shifted to the bench after scoring four tries against the Pacific Islanders, while Rufus McLean drops out of the squad altogether despite scoring two tries on his debut. However, Townsend believes that Darcy Graham – switching from fullback to right wing – has earned the right to be the sole member of last week’s back-three to keep his place in the team.
“Darcy has lots of credit in the bank, and I also see him back to his best level physically,” said the head coach. “He struggled with a couple of knocks last year, got a shoulder operation in the summer, and we know from what he is doing at training – his speed scores and just the quality of work – that he is at his best level.
“Kyle getting on the bench ahead of others like Huw Jones shows that what he did last week has brought some reward,” Townsend added. “Rufus was definitely in the mix, too. The way he has been playing for Glasgow, and the way he started his international career, meant he definitely featured in our discussions.
“So, it is a great situation to have two more wingers put their hand up for selection, but Darcy has been very good for us in the past and I feel he is in a great place physically to play really well this weekend.”
Sale Sharks hooker Ewan Ashman is set to debut as a replacement having taken the place of vastly experienced former captain Stuart McInally on the bench.
“Stuart got ill earlier in the week [non-Covid related] and we made a call that having missed a couple of days of training this was an opportunity to bring Ewan in,” explained Townsend. “Stuart would have been in the
mix because I thought he played really well when he came off the bench last week, there was a real intent and edge about his game.
“Ewan combines strength and power in the set-piece because he’s a big hooker, with pace. He’s a dynamic ballcarrier and could be a real threat over the ball in defence. I remember games when he played for Scotland Under-20s for those two seasons and he was very good over ball.
“I really liked how he played against Exeter at the end of last season. He’s not had that many opportunities down there [at Sale] but whenever he’s had the chance he’s been one of their key players.”
Bath back-rower Josh Bayliss is the other potential debutant on the bench.
“It’s going to be an open game. Both teams are going to be looking to move the ball so Josh’s pace and his linkability in the wide channels, and his work-rate, we believe, really suits this game,” said Townsend. “His form for Bath in tough circumstances this year has shown what a player he is.
“November is a time for us to make sure we see players in our squad. Last week was a brilliant opportunity when we were restricted to just picking our home-based players, and so many of them played really well. This will be a chance for two new players, albeit off the bench.”
The Wallabies will arrive at Murrayfield on a high having won five games on the bounce during the last two months, including back-toback victories over the world champion Springboks.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s match
against sub-strength Tonga last week has been their only hit-out since beating France back in March – and they were missing at least half a dozen of their top players for that game. But Townsend insisted that he has no concerns about his team being undercooked.
“Having a team that has played together in the past and is comfortable together helps,” he said. “Our training sessions are pretty intense. We had to calm them down today as a couple of the guys were going at it.
“Part of the reason our defence has been one of our strengths over the last year or two has been we make our training at a level where it’s hard for attacks and defences.
“Last week was a good hitout because while that was a Test match and a really good win it was also preparation for what’s coming on Sunday.”