Van’s the man for Townsend
COACH DEFENDS DROPPING WEIR FOR DEBUTANT TO FACE IRELAND
GREGOR Townsend has defended his decision to jettison Duncan Weir and throw Jaco van der Walt in at the deep end for a Scotland debut against Ireland.
Rather than go with the tried-and-trusted Weir, who drops out of the squad completely, he will start the South Africa- born fly-half who only qualified through the three-year residency rule two weeks ago.
But it will be a baptism of fire for the 26-year-old Edinburgh player, who will go head-to-head with Johnny Sexton in the Autumn Nations Cup third and fourth place play-off in Dublin tomorrow.
Asked if it was a risk to hand Van der Walt his debut against one of the most experienced stars in world rugby, head coach Townsend said: ‘We see it as an opportunity. This year and last year Jaco has taken his game to another level.
‘We see what he brings week in, week out for Edinburgh and he’s been up against players and teams at a high level in Europe and the Pro14.
‘ We see him as a very good defender, someone that carries the ball well and has really good basics that can bring the best out of the players around him.
‘We’re really looking forward to seeing him play.
‘Stamping his authority on the game would be the ultimate aim but just getting used to playing international rugby will be a great experience for him, and getting used to playing with new team-mates inside and outside of him and really just fitting in well and doing what he’s been doing with Edinburgh.
‘Defensively, he must be one of the best tackling stand-offs in world rugby. His passing and kicking are at a high level and he’ll be looking at how to best influence the defence.
‘ It will be just that little bit quicker at international level but we have a real belief and faith in his ability and in those around him to bring the best out of our back line this weekend.’
Van der Walt will be the fifth fly-half Townsend has picked in five matches since international rugby returned at the end of October. Finn Russell and Adam Hastings were both injured in the Six Nations win over Wales, which saw Stuart Hogg moved from full-back in that match. Weir then played against Italy and France.
‘Duncan has put a huge effort into his game and we would have loved to have built on those two games, but bringing Jaco in does create competition and depth and we think Jaco’s close to playing international level already, so it’ll be interesting to see how he goes,’ said Townsend.
Van der Walt is the sixth ‘residency’ player to take the field for Scotland in the Autumn Nations Cup, as well as compatriots Duhan van der Merwe, WP Nel, Cornell du Preez, Oli Kebble and Australian Sam Johnson.
Asked if it saddened him that he had to select so many players who have come through other countries’ age-grade systems and have no Scottish links, Townsend said: ‘No, it doesn’t. Jaco’s been playing for Edinburgh the last three years and his performances have earned him the right to be considered.
‘He’ll be our fifth stand-off. Finn, Adam, Duncan and Hoggy all came through the Scottish system, which is important. They’re great role models for young players.
‘The way Jaco has integrated into Edinburgh and our group, he’s a very humble and hard-working player, puts his body on the line and he’s a great defender. His great grandfather is from Aberdeen, so there is a Scottish connection but that’s not necessary.
‘We know the rules that other countries as well as ourselves have used. It’s up to those players that get capped through those residency mechanisms to make a huge effort to play for that country. That’s what we’ve seen with Duhan and Oli, and we’ve seen in the past from WP Nel and Sam Johnson.
‘We don’t have anything like the player numbers of any nation in the top 15 in the world. Italy and all those countries have many more players than us, so we have to work very hard at getting players to the highest level.
‘Our depth’s at the best- ever level, and there are players who have come through residency in that, but that’s always been the case over the years. Players who are second or third generation or those who have come to live in our country.
‘The real pleasing aspect is we have t hree players — Rory Sutherland, Darcy Graham and Hogg — from a small town in the Borders, Hawick, who are all starting for Scotland.
‘That’s not happened in the pro era. Those who said rugby would struggle in the Borders in the pro era with the loss of the pro team, here’s three guys who didn’t play for the Borders because it didn’t exist and now they’re playing for Scotland. That’s a real success story.’
Townsend has made six changes to the team who lost to France at Murrayfield. In addition to Van der Walt replacing Weir, Duncan Taylor starts in place of Johnson i n the centre, with Graham coming back on to the wing in place of Blair Kinghorn, who has a broken finger. Sutherland and Zander Fagerson replace Kebble and Simon Berghan respectively at prop. In the back row, Hamish Watson i s rested, with Jamie Ritchie moving across to seven and Blade Thomson coming in at six.
Townsend defended the way his team and others have played during the Autumn Nations Cup and gave short shrift to suggestions the tournament has been boring and that teams are kicking too much.
Asked if he felt Scotland had a duty to entertain, he replied: ‘No, we have a duty to play to our strengths and do all we can to win.
‘I believe if we play a quicker game, passing the ball, kicking the ball, running with the ball, that is great but it is how we get the ball back, how we defend.
‘I have seen a couple of headlines on the matter but I feel rugby in November can be affected by weather. You get a wet ball, our game changes. It is harder to break down defences with a wet ball.’
Meanwhile, Townsend admitted he was aware that promising Munster fly- half Ben Healy is Scottish qualified but says it’s up to Glasgow Warriors whether they make a bid.
‘I know he’s Scottish qualified and has been impressive in his outings this year,’ he said.