GRAY SAID NO TO CALL TWICE!
Townsend reveals shock snubs from veteran lock
GReGOR Townsend last night revealed that Richie Gray has turned down the opportunity to join up with Scotland’s World Cup training squad — twice.
Speaking to the media in Georgia, the head coach admitted he was disappointed by the snubs, the first coming when Gray was asked to be involved in the original 44-man group named in May.
After the injury to Sam Skinner following last weekend’s victory over France, Townsend again contacted Gray, who had just become a father for the first time, only for the 30-year-old lock to again knock back the chance to represent his country.
‘That (decision in May) was understandable with the season he had (in terms of injuries) and the commitment that players in France have to give — more understandable, let’s say,’ said Townsend.
‘When I chatted to him after Sam’s injury, I did get the feeling this would be different because we’d done the six weeks of training, he’d not had to be over in Portugal and Scotland and all the other places away from his new family. He also felt better physically than he was at the end of the season.
‘After reflection, when he got back to me, his decision was the same. It is a big commitment and we need people who are 100 per cent committed to the training, to playing well, to going to Japan if selected and being out there for a number of weeks.
‘It is disappointing for us, disappointing for his brother (fellow lock forward Jonny Gray) I’d imagine, but that’s his decision and we need to move on from it.’
Surprisingly, Townsend, did not close the door on Gray playing again for his country, adding: ‘We’ll see. I would hope so. If he’s playing really well, and merits getting called up into our squad whether it’s Six Nations or summer tour next year, he’d be in consideration.’
Townsend also played down suggestions he has taken an unnecessary risk by naming a strong Scotland starting XV for tomorrow’s Test against a physical and motivated Georgia side.
With a sell-out crowd of around 55,000 expected at the Dinamo Arena for the country’s first home match against Tier One opposition, there’s little doubt the Scots will face opponents who won’t be taking the occasion lightly.
Townsend has already lost Skinner from his World Cup plans through injury, Tommy Seymour and Blade Thomson are out of this warm-up after taking head knocks in the last match, while the injured trio of Fraser Brown, Magnus Bradbury and Jonny Gray — who all missed the doubleheader against France — will have to rely on their reputations to make the final 31-man squad when the Scotland head coach names it on Tuesday.
However, despite the growing casualty list, Townsend will send key performers like Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw, John Barclay, Hamish Watson and Stuart McInally, who captains the side, into battle against the Georgians. And he insists the need for gametime before heading to Japan outweighs any potential risk.
‘If people get injured on the way then that’s just bad luck, it happens,’ Townsend told BBC Scotland. ‘The more exposure our players get to playing and improving and learning together, the better place we’ll be come the World Cup.
‘The most important thing is we go to Japan playing the best possible rugby we can to give ourselves the best chance of beating Ireland on September 22.
‘We welcome back a couple of players, like Sam Johnson who has recovered from injury, Stuart McInally as captain.
‘So that’s a bonus. And other players are getting an opportunity this weekend, too.
‘The downside were the injuries from last week. For Sam Skinner to leave the squad is a huge blow for Sam and also for us as a group to see someone who won’t get the opportunity to play this weekend and get into the final 31.’
Yet, it is perhaps surprising to see the experienced RussellLaidlaw axis given another runout in the half-backs after they started at Murrayfield against France.
The pair would be most people’s favourites to start against Ireland in the World Cup opener and the Scotland boss seemed to suggest that he had originally thought about resting them.
‘Plans change,’ said Townsend when asked if he had thought about resting the duo. ‘Probably, but you look at performances, you look at cohesion, you look at the next game, about giving other players opportunities but we felt it was right for them to go again.
‘They did well last week. Greig was captain last week. Finn was leading the backs so it was great to see them working together, leading meetings and chats on the field.’
There is strong competition in the Scotland midfield with Sam Johnson, who picked up a foot injury in training before the World Cup warm-up games, returning at inside centre.
Rory Hutchinson, who won his first two caps off the bench against France, takes the other centre position.