THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORNE

Centre defies critics to make squad

SCOTLAND centre Peter Horne has unfairly become the whipping boy of the international team when things don’t go right. But like Dan Parks before him — another who famously split opinion — he has maintained his dignity and risen above it all.

Now the man some fans love to hate has had the last laugh after seeing off strong competition to be named as one of the four centres in Gregor Townsend’s 31-strong World Cup squad.

Many thought Horne’s hopes of making it to Japan had died when his telegraphed pass was picked off by Damian Penaud for a French try in last month’s warm-up match at Murrayfield.

However, as Sportsmail revealed ahead of yesterday’s official team announcement at Linlithgow Palace, head coach Townsend has gone for Sam Johnson, Duncan Taylor, Chris Harris and Horne at the expense of Rory Hutchinson and Huw Jones.

In a squad short of surprises, the debate over whether Horne or Hutchinson should have been picked has become a hot topic among fans, especially after the latter scored two tries against Georgia last weekend.

Through it all, Horne has never doubted his ability, nor his chances of going to Japan.

‘A few people asked me whether I thought my World Cup chance was gone after what happened against France, but I never did,’ he said. ‘I was just raging I had thrown a pass that had been picked off.

‘On the way back to the posts, I didn’t think of how it would affect my chances. I didn’t think of the magnitude of the interception at all.

‘I just thought these things happen. It was a test of my character to get over it and I did.

‘When I was younger and made a mistake like that, it would have affected me. I would have clammed up a bit but I

knew I had to just get on with it. I was pleased at how well I went on to play and it’s led to this.’

Eight centres in Townsend’s original 44-strong training squad were battling it out for four places. Nick Grigg and Kyle Steyn were jettisoned first. Now Hutchinson and Jones.

‘ O b v i o u s l y, I w a s n e r v o u s a b o u t selection as there were so many quality centres in the mix but I’m delighted to be involved,’ said Horne.

‘Look, me and Hutch are very different players. He played really well on his first start against Georgia. I was really chuffed for him and he scored a couple of good tries.

‘Huw (Jones) has not been on fire like he has been in the past but we know what he can do. I gave him a wee message saying I was thinking about him. I’m sure I will see him before I go.

‘For me to got to the World Cup is fantastic. I was told on Sunday I had been picked and I was on to my brother, George, who had already been told he was going. My mum and dad, my whole family are delighted we have both made it.’

Horne was part of the team who came so close to sealing a semi-final place in 2015, only to be left in despair when referee Craig Joubert’s controversial penalty call allowed Australia to steal victory.

‘The manner of that defeat still bugs me,’ said the Glasgow Warriors star. ‘We have a group of players who may not make another World Cup, so we’re desperate to do well.’

Townsend was impressed by Horne’s recovery from his error against France. The 29-year-old’s greater experience has counted in his favour.

‘You can look at that (intercept) and say it was an error and that happens,’ said the head coach. ‘Alternatively, you could argue it was really good defence by the French player to read the play and score.

‘Either way, Peter didn’t let it bother him. He played very well after that and worked his socks off — as he always does. He was a really good foil to play with Finn Russell at ten and carried the ball and gave us width.

‘He’s always one of our top two or three hardest workers in training and in games. He’s played a number of games for Scotland when we have done well. He’s been part of our success and deserves to go to Japan.’

Northampton’s Hutchinson, 23, has been put on stand-by ahead of the final warm-up game against Georgia at Murrayfield on Friday.

‘Rory came very close and both him and Huw Jones were debated by the coaching staff for a long while,’ said Townsend.

‘Rory did very well on Saturday night and he was comfortable on the ball but just missed out as he’s not had enough international experience, especially against some top teams.

‘Both Rory and Huw are similar in terms of not having enough games at international level to force their way into the squad. Huw hasn’t had enough recent games playing well, or playing at all over the last few months.

‘He’s looked in unbelievable shape in training but we haven’t seen enough in the game and a half he’s had with us.’

Scotland will be led into the World Cup by captain Stuart McInally, who was given the honour ahead of John Barclay and Greig Laidlaw.

Townsend has gone with a 17/14 split between forwards and backs, with hooker Fraser Brown included — despite not playing since the Pro14 final against Leinster when he was carried off with a foot injury. Jamie Bhatti, Josh Strauss, Matt Fagerson and Magnus Bradbury all failed to make the final cut.