Graham’s stature continues to grow

Darcy Graham may still have the schoolboy looks but the Scotland wing insists he is no longer a rookie on the international scene.

The pint-sized Edinburgh back burst on to the Test stage late last year before capping off his first start for Gregor Townsend’s team with a try against Wales during March’s Guinness Six Nations clash.

But the 22-year-old really came of age for the Dark Blues with a stunning brace against the English as Scotland mounted the bravest of fightbacks to claim a remarkable 38-38 draw having been 24 points down at the change of ends.

It was that showing at Twickenham that convinced the Hawick flyer that he was now a man among men as he finally found his feet at rugby’s highest level.

Graham – who will collect his sixth cap when he starts against Georgia tonight – said: “I definitely feel settled into the international scene now.

“I’m not the young boy just fresh into the squad any more.

“I feel like I’m a proper international player now, especially after that England game.

“When I look back to that day at Twickenham, what I took from it was huge in terms of my learning.

“I took a lot of confidence too and that is going to be so important at the World Cup. You need to back yourself on that kind of stage.

“You have to have that confidence in yourself and know you’ll go out and do a good job.”

This evening’s clash with the Lelos at the Dinamo Arena will be the Scotland hopeful’s final audition for a spot in the travelling party heading to the Far East.

Townsend will unveil his 31-man squad at a ceremony at Linlithgow Palace and the tension is beginning to rack up for those less than certain of their places.

Graham is certainly up against some tough competition, with Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland time-served members of the squad and Blair Kinghorn flexible enough to cover all three slots across the back three.

But Graham is putting his faith in the power of positivity.

Asked if he felt he was good enough to clinch a slot, he replied: “Of course. I have to. If I don’t then how is Gregor meant to?

“But the competition is high, especially in the back three. There’s only so many spaces on that plane, but hopefully I can show Gregor what I can do this weekend.

“Hopefully I can just put in a good performance then next week will take care of itself.”