IS THIS THE LAND OF THE RISING SCOTS?
Townsend banking on experience as his army of veterans eye centre stage in new world order
GREIG LAIDLAW’S image regularly appears on one of the giant video screens that surround the Shibuya Crossing in downtown Tokyo, the busiest pedestrian junction in the world.
It is unlikely the Scotland scrumhalf or his team-mates will ever experience such exposure again.
The Rugby World Cup is certainly doing its utmost to make the host country sit up and take notice and as Laidlaw — or ‘Mr Greig’ as his adoring Japanese public have christened him — sends a diving pass across the electronic screens, it has attracted the attention of one or two of the 2,500 people who cross the road at any one time. A remarkable sight in itself.
The interest in the Land of the Rising Sun cranked up a few notches after Japan opened their World Cup campaign with a 30-10 win over Russia yesterday and will no doubt grow again when New Zealand play South Africa today in the first clash between the traditional rugby superpowers.
In truth, however, the host nation has been more preoccupied during the build-up with the world’s best sumo wrestlers battling it out for the Emperor’s Cup. Thankfully for the World Cup organisers, the sumo competition — known locally as the basho — comes to an end tomorrow just as ‘Mr Greig’ and his Scotland team-mates kick off their campaign against Ireland in Yokohama.
With Pool A rivals Japan winning, victory over the Irish would bring with it a little breathing space. For Scotland, a rare triumph over a Tier One nation at a World Cup would also provide a welcome fillip — and belief and momentum could be key, especially with the All Blacks and Springboks as potential quarter-final opponents.
A sold-out crowd of more than 70,000 is expected for the big ‘basho’ between the Six Nations rivals — and Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has gone for experience, like Laidlaw, as he looks for what would be a statement victory.
The starting XV will have a record total of 630 Test caps, an average of 42 per man. The previous highest number was 581 caps against England in Auckland in the 2011 World Cup pool game that Scotland lost. It is still behind Ireland, whose starting XV will boast 679 caps between them.
Townsend admitted that an unwillingness to risk rookies against the streetwise Irish was a factor in his team selection, with the knock-on effect meaning Tommy Seymour instead of Darcy Graham on the wing and Ryan Wilson taking the No 8 jersey ahead of Blade Thomson.
‘We have something like a combined total of 630 caps, so that’s hugely important,’ said Townsend. ‘Experience is vital in this fixture as this is the first time this squad has all been fit and available.
‘We’re missing probably just two or three players (through injury), so to get a squad that has this kind of experience for this kind of game is a real bonus. Experience and form is going to count for a lot.
‘We have key players such as Greig (Laidlaw), who has massive experience and others like John Barclay, who have been over the course many times.’
There will be few who will argue with Townsend’s selection in a game that is far too close to call. Ireland may be ranked No 1 in the world, and Scotland down in seventh, but when it comes to individual battles, the Scots can certainly hold their own.
Fly-half Finn Russell is a more off-the-cuff, running type of player who can unlock defences with one eye-catching move compared to his more tactically rigid counterpart Johnny Sexton, while Stuart Hogg and Stuart McInally would certainly give their opposite numbers a run for their money.
However, it is in the back-row area that the match could be won and lost. Ireland have Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and in the crucial position of No 8, CJ Stander, while the Scots will deploy Barclay and Hamish Watson on the flanks, with Wilson in the centre.
Townsend went out of his way to talk up Wilson, the Glasgow Warriors star who is key here. When he is on form, he is unstoppable and gets in the faces of the opposition. When he is not, however, he can be guilty of giving away silly penalties and isn’t a stranger to the odd unnecessary yellow card.
‘We know what’s coming against Ireland,’ said Townsend. ‘We have to win the ball back, win those collisions and have to make huge tackle numbers — and Ryan can help us do that.
‘Ryan is an experienced and emotional leader. He is the person who sets the energy off the field and in the changing room before a game. He is a very intelligent player.
‘If you ask Danny Wilson (Scotland assistant head coach), he will say he is one of the best line-out forwards he’s ever worked with. His tactical nous is very similar to John Barclay’s in terms of knowing the opposition and knowing what we need to do to win.
‘If you have more players like Ryan in your group before a big game like this, it really helps planning and gives others confidence.’
Barclay has been rooming with Wilson in the build-up to the match and believes he is the man who can turn things the way of Scotland. He may have caused him some sleepless nights but come tomorrow, he believes it will be the Irish back-row that will be having nightmares.
‘With Ryan, you know what you get,’ said Barclay. ‘He’s physical, he’s confrontational and a very good line-out forward. Ryan and Hamish are two of my best friends in the squad, so it’s great to be playing with them.
‘I share a room with Ryan, so it’s going to be a long six weeks. He woke up the other night screaming in his sleep. I don’t know why, he didn’t remember in the morning.
‘Ryan’s rugby knowledge is fantastic. I think rugby’s a simple game, and the simple things are undervalued, that physicality, being abrasive. Ryan has got that.
‘Teams and individuals are so well-conditioned now, you get a lot of clones and certain positions are profiled into certain players.
‘Ryan is not a clone. He’s an individual type of player who is a good ball-carrier. He’s probably happy with his reputation as a bit of a type of a hard man who riles up the opposition, but there is more to his game than that.
‘He’s not the biggest No8 and Hamish isn’t the biggest either, but both can run through people like nobody else I’ve seen.
‘We know the way Ireland play but their back three are a little different to what it has been.
‘We play against them in the Pro14 and we know their traits, so we are ready.’