TOWNSEND BACKS GRIGG TO SHINE ON SCOTS DEBUT

GREGOR TOWNSEND has backed Nick Grigg to make an impact when the young centre makes his Scotland debut against Fiji tomorrow. Despite just finishing his first full season as a professional, the 24-year-old finds himself as the only new cap on the three-match summer tour. And Townsend has every confidence the New Zealand-born player can impress as much on the international stage as he has with Glasgow Warriors. ‘Nick has had an outstanding season,’ said the Scotland head coach. ‘He won the Players’ Player of the Year at Glasgow and was up against some pretty good players. ‘He is excellent in attack and defence, and makes lots of line breaks and tackle breaks. We believe this is the right time to give him an opportunity. ‘He was close to being involved against Italy, but playing alongside Duncan Taylor against Fiji will be great for him in his first Test match.’ Townsend has made 12 changes to the team that beat Australia last weekend, with Taylor, Jonny Gray and captain John Barclay the only survivors from the triumph in Sydney. Ruaridh Jackson comes in at full-back in place of Greig Tonks, who drops to the bench, while, in the pack, prop forward Alex Allan and back row John Hardie make their first appearances of the summer. Uncapped trio D’Arcy Rae, George Turner and Sean Kennedy will return home bitterly disappointed they have not made any of the squads on tour, but Townsend insisted their time will come, possibly during the Autumn Tests. The head coach is surprised, meanwhile, that scrum-half Niko Matawalu hasn’t made the Fijian side, though his fellow former Glasgow Warriors team-mate Leone Nakarawa does line up in the second row for the Pacific Islanders. ‘Leone and Niko visited the team hotel the other night and Niko thought he might not be involved,’ said Townsend, who coached both men during their time together at Scotstoun. ‘I thought he was double-bluffing. I’m surprised he isn’t playing but it shows the depth they have.’ Townsend, whose side can sign off with a third straight victory tomorrow, added: ‘It would be great to have an unbeaten tour, so we want to finish on a high.’