SCOTLAND SEARCHING FOR A FLIER LIKE FINN
Rookies have big chance to catch Townsend’s eye on summer tour
THE fringe benefits of a North American tour were clear for all to see four years ago when a bona fide Scottish star was born.
Finn Russell had a meteoric rise to fame after making his debut for Vern Cotter’s team on that trip and has never looked back.
The big question now is whether someone on the current tour of Canada and the USA can make as big a first impression as the Racing 92 fly-half did in 2014.
With one eye on next year’s World Cup, head coach Gregor Townsend has gone out of his way to give youngsters and those on the fringes their big chance against the Canadians in Edmonton tomorrow.
In his 23-strong match-day squad there are four uncapped players. Of those who have played for their country before, 13 have ten caps or less. It is one of the most inexperienced Scotland selections in recent years but it also has a fresh new look about it.
The uncapped players and those with only a smattering of caps will dream of leaving North America with as much praise ringing in their ears as Russell did.
So who are the men who have the potential to make a big impression in the Commonwealth Stadium?
Top of the list has to be 21-yearold flanker Jamie Ritchie, who makes his debut. His impressive performance for Edinburgh against Glasgow Warriors in the final game of the regulation Pro14 season secured his call-up.
With John Hardie out of the Scotland set-up for good after leaving Edinburgh, John Barclay on the long-term casualty list and Hamish Watson recovering from a shoulder operation, openside flankers are thin on the ground.
That leaves the door open for Ritchie to make the No 7 jersey his own, at least for most of next season. He’s already being tipped as a future Scotland captain by Grant Gilchrist, who skippers the national team today.
The Scotland coaching team will also have a close look at Harlequins player James Lang as they badly need a physical centre because of Alex Dunbar’s persistent injury problems. Big things are expected, too, of Magnus Bradbury who starts at openside with only two caps to his name.
Throw into the mix winger Byron McGuigan (three caps) centre Chris Harris (two) and full-back Blair Kinghorn (two) and this is a great chance for peripheral players.
Among those starting on the bench, fly-half Adam Hastings will make his debut as he bids to become first-choice back-up to Russell, while flanker Luke Hamilton, who has just one cap, will see the next two games as his chance to make a breakthrough.
Gilchrist, who replaces the injured Stuart McInally as skipper, feels Townsend’s younger players are good enough to cope with the rigours of the tour and sees potential stars of the future.
‘There are not a lot of caps in this selection against Canada but there are old heads on young shoulders,’ said the Scotland captain.
‘Jamie Ritchie could captain Edinburgh. In fact, he could captain Scotland. Guys like him and Magnus Bradbury have got great leadership skills. They’re young but they’re not young when they get on the training pitch.
‘Guys like Jamie and Magnus know what they’re doing, they speak well. So, for me, although we have some uncapped players and some with a low amount of caps, when we’ve been training there’s not been a low amount of voices.
‘You also have James Lang and Adam Hastings, both of whom have been really good in training. They need to prove it in the games but there are a lot of guys who are young but they have ability.
‘People are willing to stand up and speak, and say what they think and they will do that against Canada, I am sure.’
On a personal level, Gilchrist has been handed the captaincy for the first time since the national team lost 55-6 to South Africa in Port Elizabeth four years ago. Since then, injury has curtailed his chances of playing for Scotland and, although he is honoured to lead his country again, he wishes it had been in different circumstances.
The second row has only been given the leadership role because first-choice McInally had to pull out with a calf injury.
‘It’s an honour to lead Scotland but Stuart is a good mate of mine,’ said the 27-year-old Edinburgh star. ‘I was captain against South Africa four years ago and back then I had a lot less experience of captaining sides. I feel more equipped to lead the team now.
‘I am buzzing for the weekend. My injury problems have only made me stronger. They made me a better person and a better rugby player, as well as a better leader.
‘Everybody hates being injured but I am in a better place now than I ever was.
‘Part of the reason is learning from set backs and how to come back better. Getting the chance against Canada is a great moment and a huge honour.’ SCOTLAND: Kinghorn; Jones, Harris, Lang, McGuigan; Jackson, HidalgoClyne; Dell, Brown, Berghan, Toolis, Gilchrist, Bradbury, Ritchie, Denton. Replacements: Turner, Bhatti, McCallum, Carmichael, Hamilton, Price, Hastings, Bennett.