TIME TO TAKE ON THE WORLD
As Townsend gets ready to name his squad for Japan, who deserves to go?
It’s World Cup squad decision time for scotland head coach Gregor townsend on tuesday. the impressive 44-10 win over Georgia in tbilisi was the final match before he decides which 31 players will go to Japan. Here, former scotland captain Andy Nicol and Sportsmail rugby correspondent Rob Robertson discuss the men they would take to the World Cup.
ANDY NiCoL: I have gone with an 18/13 split between forwards and backs but it hasn’t been easy picking them.
RoB RoBeRtsoN: I would go differently from you, Andy, and I think a split of 17 forwards and 14 backs would be a better mix but it hasn’t been an easy selection either. PRoPs AN: Allan Dell, Zander Fagerson and W P Nel are absolute stick-ons. simon Berghan started at tight-head and ended at loosehead in the defeat to France in Nice, with that versatility helping his case. Gordon Reid is the other prop I would take.
RR: Dell and Nel would be my starting props for the opening World Cup game against Ireland. Jamie Bhatti is a good player but didn’t do enough in his start in the defeat to France in Nice, or off the bench against Georgia, to merit selection. Who goes? AN : Allan Dell, W P Nel, Gordon Reid, simon Berghan, Zander Fagerson. Who misses out? Jamie Bhatti. RR: I agree. A strong group of props. hookeRs AN: this is an easy choice. stuart McInally goes as first-choice hooker and I would have him as my captain. Fraser Brown and George turner would go too. Grant stewart is improving all the time but he has only had game-time in the World Cup warm-up games because Brown has been injured.
RR: A no-brainer taking these three but I would like to see Fraser Brown get some game-time in scotland’s final match against Georgia at Murrayfield next Friday to prove his fitness. Who goes? AN: stuart McInally, Fraser Brown and George turner. Who misses out? Grant stewart. RR : I would take the same three, provided Brown is fully fit. stewart would be an able stand-by if he isn’t. seCoND RoWs AN: Not having sam skinner through injury is a massive blow to scotland as he can cover in the second and the back row. I don’t think Gregor townsend has any alternative now but to go with four conventional second rows and pick a back row who can provide cover at lock in an emergency.
RR : I would sacrifice one second row to take an extra back row. Jonny Gray, provided he shakes off a hamstring injury, can be world class on his day. Grant Gilchrist and Ben toolis are a good second-row partnership for Edinburgh and scotland. My big disappointment is that Richie Gray turned down not one, but two offers from townsend to join up with the squad. Who goes? AN: Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist, Ben toolis and scott Cummings. Who misses out? Nobody. Who goes? RR : Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist and Ben toolis. Who misses out? scott Cummings. BACk RoW AN: Now this is tough. Along with the centres, the hardest call of the lot. If we work on my assumption that Gregor is taking 18 forwards, then that leaves me six picks. Hamish Watson is one of the best opensides in the world and one of the first names on the team-sheet. John Barclay, who has lots of experience and Blade thomson, who can also cover in the second row, are stick-ons for me.
that left me three players to choose from Ryan Wilson, Magnus Bradbury, who could also play in the second row at a push, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson and Josh strauss. When it came down to it, Ritchie’s ability to play six or seven won him a place in my squad along with Bradbury and Wilson.
RR: the big question for me is whether townsend goes for Magnus Bradbury, who hasn’t played in any of the three World Cup warm-ups due to a rib injury, or Matt Fagerson who impressed me in the win over Georgia. I know Bradbury is a more physical player but Fagerson has been putting in the work in training and did
well — and could be the shock back-row pick. Who goes? AN: Hamish Watson, Blade thomson, Jamie Ritchie, John Barclay, Ryan Wilson, Magnus Bradbury. Who misses out? Josh strauss, Matt Fagerson. Who goes? RR: Hamish Watson, Blade thomson, Jamie Ritchie, John Barclay, Ryan Wilson, Matt Fagerson. Who misses out? Magnus Bradbury, Josh strauss. sCRum-hALVes AN: It is important that Gregor takes three scrum-halves and I can’t understand why Eddie Jones is only taking two with England. What happens if there is a niggle or an injury with one of Eddie’s scrum-halves the day before a game? they would be in real trouble.
Greig Laidlaw isn’t just a scrumhalf. He can also play stand-off, which is important. Laidlaw, Ali Price and George Horne go for me.
RR: I realise stuart McInally is going to be scotland’s World Cup captain but I would give the leadership role to Laidlaw. He is an inspirational figure, who has looked really fired up in the warm-up games. He should start ahead of Ali Price against Ireland. Who goes? AN: Greig Laidlaw, Ali Price, George Horne. Who misses out? Nobody. RR: Agree with your choices, Andy. All three are able to do a job for scotland. stAND-oFF AN: Finn Russell goes but has to be kept fresh for the big games, so he can start against Ireland in the opener and Japan in the final one. Gregor has to ask himself who plays ten against lesser teams in the group like Russia, as you don’t want Finn involved? Laidlaw cannot be the only back-up ten and you would not want to play him in games such as the Russian one anyway.
somebody has to step in against Russia at stand-off and that has to be Adam Hastings. the 27-10 defeat to France in Paris in the six Nations showed to me that the other contender for the role, Peter Horne, is not an international stand-off.
If Finn Russell goes through the whole tournament without injury, then Peter is a better squad player than Adam because he can play at stand-off or in the centre.
But Hastings is a better stand-off than Horne and I don’t
think you can go into a World Cup with just one specialist No10.
RR: Finn Russell is the most vital player in the Scotland squad. He ran the show against Georgia and has to play in the big World Cup matches. Russia are a poor lot and even lost heavily to English Championship side Jersey Reds in a World Cup warm-up match. I don’t think it is that important who Townsend takes as a back-up ten as Russell will be asked to play every minute of the important matches. Who goes? AN: Finn Russell, Adam Hastings. Who misses out? No specialist ten. RR: Agree, Andy, but let’s hope Finn stays fit. CeNtRes AN: Sam Johnson, Duncan Taylor and Rory Hutchinson go, without question. Chris Harris has played himself into the World Cup squad and he can also play on the wing. Peter Horne misses out but only just. Huw Jones by a long way.
RR: Townsend had been a real fan of Jones but he hasn’t shown enough to merit a World Cup spot. At one stage, he would have been one of the first names on the Scotland team sheet but his defence is not strong enough for him to make the cut. I feel sorry for Peter Horne but, with a 17-14 split, he doesn’t make the final squad. Who goes? AN: Sam Johnson, Duncan Taylor, Rory Hutchinson, Chris Harris. Who misses out? Peter Horne, Huw Jones. Who goes? RR: Sam Johnson, Duncan Taylor, Rory Hutchinson, Chris Harris. Who misses out? Peter Horne, Huw Jones. BACk thRee AN: If Gregor sticks to an 18-13 split, then Tommy Seymour is missing out. He is a quality player, a British and Irish Lion, but this is a squad for the World Cup and has to be looked on as a whole. You need to find spaces for your best players and those versatile enough to fill in positions you are weak in. Tommy can only play on the wing. Because he lacks that versatility, I found it impossible to find a place for him in my final squad.
RR: I would have Tommy Seymour in the squad, provided he can shake off the concussion that kept him out of the Georgia game. Brave in the air and a lethal finisher, I would start him against Ireland. Who goes? AN: Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn. Who misses out? Tommy Seymour, Byron McGuigan. Who goes? RR: Stuart Hogg, Darcy Graham, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Blair Kinghorn. Who misses out? Byron McGuigan. Andy Nicol’s Scotland team to start v Ireland in World Cup opening game in Yokohama: Hogg; Graham, Taylor, Johnson, Maitland; Laidlaw, Russell; Dell, McInally, Nel; Gilchrist, Toolis, Barclay, Watson, Thomson. Rob Robertson’s Scotland team to start v Ireland: Hogg; Seymour, Taylor, Johnson, Maitland; Laidlaw, Russell; Dell, McInally, Nel; Gilchrist, Gray, Ritchie, Watson, Wilson.