Graham is relishing challenge of filling Hogg void
STAND-IN FULL-BACK IS READY TO PLAY HIS OWN
WHEN one of the leading full-backs of the modern era offers to lend some pointers on how best to play the position, most novices would gladly make the time to take the advice on board.
Darcy Graham, however, is not most novices. As grounded and genial as they come, there would have been no arrogance in his decision not to pin down fellow Hawick man Stuart Hogg to pick his brains on the nuances of playing at No15 for Scotland, as Graham will do for the first time against Tonga at Murrayfield tomorrow.
With Hogg (below) indisposed due to his involvement in the Exeter Chiefs’ Premiership encounter against Adam Hastings’ Gloucester, and Blair Kinghorn being afforded a run-out at fly-half, it is to Graham that Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has turned to to fill
I never stay on my wing anyway. I’ll do as I do — look for the ball
the void in a line-up that has an experimental feel about it.
Raking through the memory banks, Graham reckons the last time he played full-back was for Edinburgh against Munster in a Champions Cup quarter-final tie in March 2019, just one of perhaps a handful of appearances as the last line of defence rather than in his favoured position on the wing.
The 24-year-old, however, comes across as the sort of care-free individual who still gets the same joy out of playing rugby as he did when he was younger. With a beaming smile on his face, he talks about ‘chucking the ball around’ in the first of four Scotland autumn Tests as if it were preparing for a game with his pals in the park.
Graham’s decision, then, not to lean on Hogg — a player he has looked up to his whole life — for a steer on how best to play the role does not stem from any notion that he has nothing left to learn.
Instead, it is simply an extension of his simplistic approach of just getting out there and seeing what unfolds. It is hard not to warm to such an attitude.
‘This will be the first time I’ve pulled the No15 shirt on for Scotland,’ he confirmed. ‘The last time for Edinburgh was a couple of years ago now. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve played there in total.
‘The last time I can remember was playing for Edinburgh against Munster at Murrayfield in the Champions Cup quarter-final.
‘Gregor asked me how I felt about playing it. I was very open to a new challenge. It’s not something I’ve done in a long time, so I’m very much looking forward to it.
‘There is a wee bit of added pressure, I guess. Especially with Blair playing at No10 when he’s usually at 15. There’s a fair bit of movement in that back line.
‘But I never stay on my wing anyway, so nothing changes much for me. I’ll just do as I do, go looking for ball.
‘It’ll just be in a 15 jersey and maybe that’ll make it a bit easier for me to get my hands on the ball a little more.
‘Will it be more enjoyable? We’ll find out at the weekend!’
On Hogg’s offer, Graham was typically laid back. ‘Stuart kind of left things up to myself,’ he added. ‘He said I could come and grab him and he’s always there on the other end of the phone, so I know I’ve got that. But I’ve played it before and I know what I’m doing, so I’ll just kind of figure things out on my own.
‘Blair’s been really helpful as well. Obviously, he’s the Edinburgh 15 and has been moved to ten, so we’re helping each other along the way. We’re both in new positions because there’s been a bit of movement in that back line. We’ll help each other and Blair is always there for a laugh and will look after me.’ The thought of the Tongan pack thundering towards you under a high ball would have many players waking up in a cold sweat, especially when wingers Kyle Steyn and debutant Rufus McLean are hardly the biggest either. Graham, though, is looking forward to the physical challenge. ‘We know Tonga are big boys and physical, so our plan is to move them about, keep the ball in play and run them about the pitch a bit,’ he revealed. ‘We’ve worked really hard on our front-line focus, just being really physical and matching what they bring. They’re big boys and they’re going to run hard. We just need to match that on game day.
‘But it all depends on the weather. If it’s raining, our game plan might change a wee bit. But as it is, we’re looking to move them about and play a bit of rugby.’
The first crowd at a Scotland home game for 19 months will be swollen by a healthy travelling contingent from Hawick.
Graham’s brother, Clark, won’t be at Murrayfield as he continues his convalescence from a life-threatening car crash but the rest of the family will be on hand to offer their support.
‘There are about ten or 11 of them coming to watch,’ revealed Graham. ‘My granny’s coming up as well and that’s the first time she’s watched me since Under-18 level, so it’ll be nice to have her in the stand.
‘It’s really exciting to have the family back. It means so much to me to have them in the crowd.’