Wilson delighted to tough it out

THERE was a time when Ryan Wilson’s versatility threatened to be his downfall. Effective at both six or eight in the back row, it was just a question of what was his best position. Unfortunately for Wilson, it made him the perfect man to have on the bench. At Glasgow Warriors, he played in both positions last season and his versatility made him a vital part of Gregor Townsend’s team because of the high number of injuries the club sustained. Now, however, it seems Vern Cotter has made his mind up — and it has worked in Wilson’s favour. Against France, Italy and Ireland in the last Six Nations, Wilson took the No 8 shirt and, even though Josh Strauss and David Denton are more natural eights, he was once again given the nod to start against Japan ahead of them both and took full advantage. Provided he does not need a rest after the tremendous shift he put in at the Toyota Stadium on Saturday and shakes off the knee injury he is carrying, his name will be among the first on the Scotland team sheet for the second Test. It was clear, though, that his exertions took a lot out of him on a hot and humid night in Japan. At the end of a hard season, the shift he put in was even more impressive. ‘It was my first game in that sort of heat after a bit of a break and it was tough out there and we really felt it,’ said 27-year-old Wilson. ‘There were a few tired bodies at half-time and it was even hot in the changing room as it seemed there was no air conditioning. ‘But we pride ourselves on being a fit team and we said in the second half would be where we’d get them. We thought that because we are very fit and also because we saw a few of the Japanese players going down in the first half. We felt we could really go at them as the game went on. ‘On a personal level, I got a knock on the top of the knee which didn’t help. I had a bit of a dead leg already, then I got that whack and it all cramped up. I don’t suppose the heat helped there, either, but I am going to be OK and hopefully available for selection.’ Wilson (left) felt his side pushed things too much during the match and he could understand Cotter’s criticism that maybe they hadn’t made the most of the opportunities for that very reason. At times, the last pass was rushed and chances went abegging near the Japanese try line. ‘Maybe we’ve got to cool it a bit in the next game,’ he admitted. ‘There are a few things to fix but we will be going into the next game with a positive mindset. ‘We maybe forced a few things too much, which didn’t help, but we’re a team that is trying to play at a high tempo. ‘There were also a few times when we maybe underestimated them a bit at the breakdown. ‘We will go into the next game knowing we have to improve to win.’