Hastings leads charge of Scotland young guns eager to make their mark
Blooding of fresh talent gives Wales Test an added twist of interest, reports Richard Bath
Craig Chalmers knows how Adam Hastings feels. The Melrose man made his debut against Wales in 1989, scoring a try and drop- goal as Scotland won 23-7, and believes there are undeniable similarities between the Scotland side who will run out at the Principality Stadium this afternoon and the youngsters who propelled Chalmers’ generation to the Grand Slam in 1990 and within a whisker of the World Cup final in 1991.
The stand-off made his debut as a 20-year-old at the same time as young talent such as rugged 21-year-old scrum-half Gary Armstrong and abrasive 22-yearold centre Scott Hastings.
“The situation Adam is in reminds me a bit of the Scotland side I came into when we had a core of experienced players but a whole wave of young guys coming through to apply pressure,” Chalmers says. “That competition for places really drove us on. I can see that same dynamic now.”
While Chalmers emerged with players like Hastings, Armstrong, Doddie Weir, Graham Shiel and Tony Stanger, the current Scotland side has an even younger profile. Adam Hastings, who wins his fourth cap after playing in all three of the summer tour matches, only recently turned 22 while full-back Blair Kinghorn is 21 and Jamie Ritchie 22. On the bench, Matt Fagerson is 20, George Horne 23 and Darcy Graham just 21, but there are other youngsters – 23-year-old Magnus Bradbury and prop Zander Fagerson at 22 – who would be involved if fit. Among the side’s most influential players, Huw Jones and Jonny Gray are both 24, Ali Price is 25 and Ben Toolis and Allan Dell are 26, as are the absent Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg.
“Scotland are doing what Warren Gatland has been very good at with Wales – blooding young players as early as possible,” adds Chalmers. “That gives Wales options, which is important because rugby has changed. The days when guys of my era like Jason Leonard or Tim Horan would play every game are gone. Now, it’s so physical that you’ll always get injuries. You can also bring people off the bench. It’s about strength in depth. Thankfully that’s what we’re building really well, with the World Cup just a year away.”
With coach Gregor Townsend determined to play high-tempo, expansive rugby, the presence of so many youngsters from the two Scottish Pro14 sides brings genuine dynamism. There is, however, arguably a lack of experience, with Tommy Seymour and Gray the most capped players in today’s squad on 43 caps each The starting XV average fewer than 20.
The former Scotland Under-20s coach says: “You need a blend but also players who have the right mentality. I’ve known Adam [Hastings] since he was a wee boy when we were kicking a ball around in his back garden waiting for [father] Gavin to turn up. He has this real competitive edge like his dad; he genuinely hates losing, but the most important thing is that he doesn’t seem to be fazed by mistakes – he just brushes them aside and gets on with it.
“Darcy Graham has the same mindset. Blair Kinghorn and Huw Jones too – not afraid to have a go and take on people. All we need now is to build up consistency and win matches regularly on the road.
“I’d play Adam against Fiji, too, and let Finn come in for the two big games. I know it’s a results business, but sometimes, it pays to take a slightly long-term view.”
After the humiliation of Scotland’s 34-7 thrashing in Cardiff in February, Townsend is likely to be much more circumspect and play a tighter game at the outset, but he has also put his faith in the exuberance of youth to gain him Scotland’s first win in Wales since 2002, so expect pyrotechnics.