The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Gray backs brother for Scotland captaincy
Richie’s ‘little’ sibling has what it takes to lead Dark Blues against Wales
Gray has no doubts about his “little” brother’s ability to take on Scotland’s captaincy but believes Scotland’s number of team leaders means it’s a decision that won’t have a bearing on whether they can beat Wales.
Richie’s second row partner and younger sibling Jonny is one of a handful of candidates to succeed the injured Greig Laidlaw as skipper for the third RBS 6 Nations game of the campaign against the Welsh, who Scotland have not beaten since 2007.
John Barclay and Jonny’s Glasgow cocaptain Henry Pyrgos are two other possibilities but Richie thinks that his 22-year-old brother has what it takes, even if he would be a very different skipper to Laidlaw.
“It was the first time I played with Jonny as captain when he took over in Paris but it wasn’t strange for me at all, that’s just the way it is for me these days,” he said.
“These days there are a lot of leadership groups. There are a lot of co-captains so it’s not solely a one-man leadership, it up to a host of players to contribute.
“It’s unfortunate we have lost Greig, It’s a huge loss.
“He gives us great leadership and bosses us around the park well so there’s no denying it. But we have boys in the team who are defence leaders and attack leaders and these guys can step up.
“Jonny and Henry are doing a great job at Glasgow. Jonny’s growing very well into that leadership role and embraced it.”
“Jonny calls our lineouts with Scotland and he’s moving up into that captaincy role,” said Richie Gray.
But while Laidlaw is a constant verbal presence on the pitch, Richie says Jonny is much more a leader by example.
“Actions speak louder than words with him, exactly,” he continued. “He’s a reserved guy, reserved in training and on the pitch as well.
“He’s not running around shouting, he says what needs to be said as well. He’ll lead by example, that’s the kind of guy he is, that’s how he likes to go.”
Pyrgos’s ability to run the game from scrum-half may be an attraction, while Barclay initially replaced Laidlaw in Paris before getting injured himself and is an acknowledged, experienced team leader.
“Obviously teams need a captain and need to be led well but let’s not get too bogged down with it,” suggested Gray. “We’ve got a good leadership group and whoever is captain will step up and take it on from there.
“We’re not going to win or lose the game by whoever we name as captain, we’ll win by how we play the game.”
The Welsh game, coming halfway through the championship and after the disappointment of defeat in Paris tempered the euphoria after the Ireland win, is pivotal to Scotland’s campaign, added Gray.
“The main positive to take from the France game was that we didn’t play anywhere near as we could have done. We weren’t able to get into our flow or the way we wanted to play and everyone was frustrated.
“Wales will be a tough encounter and a physical test.
“We watched them play against England and I think the ball only went out of play about once in one eight minute spell. That in itself is incredible but it means we can expect a lot of ball on Saturday.”
Back at BT Murrayfield in front of their home fans, the Scots believe they can restart the momentum of the Ireland game.
“Obviously we want to win every game as everyone always says, but certainly when you have home field advantage you want to win for your supporters so we’ll be aiming for that,” he said.
“The noise at the end of the Ireland game, with everyone singing the anthem, it certainly was inspiring, it gave everyone goosebumps.
“You realise how proud you made everyone in the stadium, so it means a lot to the group.”