Scott determined not to be making up Japan numbers
Scott Cummings is doing his damnedest to make sure he’s not going to Japan just to make up the numbers.
Previously seen as the fourth-choice second-row behind Johnny Gray, Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toolis, the 22-year-old has done all he can in Scotland’s four warm-up games to try to force his way into Gregor Townsend’s starting line-up for Scotland’s World Cup opener against Ireland.
Cummings really put his hand up with a storming performance in Friday night’s 36-9 win against Georgia, but insisted: “I wasn’t really thinking about Ireland yet.
“That’s in the World Cup, we had to respect Georgia first, so I was just going out to play as well as I could for the team.
“I don’t think we played our best rugby at all times, we made a lot of mistakes in that game but what went right for us was when people got injured and had to go off, the pack really adjusted and everyone covered different positions and fronted up well.”
Cummings scored a try last week thanks to some sterling support play but said: “Last week I got a small amount of gametime at the end of the game, so my aim was just to get the ball as much as I could.
“The coach really challenged me after my first start in France to get my hands on the ball a little bit more. I didn’t make many carries in that game so for me I’ve just been trying to get my hands on the ball as much as I can, that’s one of the parts of the game I like to do well.”
Cummings admitted the World Cup wasn’t on his radar last year, he added: “Probably not even in the winter!
“There was a spell when I wasn’t getting picked at Glasgow and I was trying to knuckle down, then the Six Nations came around and I started to get a run of games.
“I’ve been trying to keep my head down and not look too far ahead.
“I wasn’t involved in the initial squad that was named but Gregor gave me a call and said there was still a spot and just to work hard at the end of the season.
“And when he added me to the squad I was genuinely thinking at the time just to train as hard as I could and try to get a warm-up game.
“I think that’s the best way for everyone. There’s so much good competition between the second rows and back rows and everyone’s just been working as hard as they can, and the guys who have had the opportunity to play have fronted up.”
Asked if he’s looking forward to Japan, the Glasgow lock said: “It’s a bit surreal, still, the fact we’re going to be in Japan for six, eight, 10 weeks. It’s going to be something special.
“Mum and Dad are hopefully going to come out for two of the games, Russia and Japan.
“It’s a dream come true as much for them as me.
“Everyone is really excited and my family will be watching. My girlfriend has already planned all the times she will watch the games in the morning. They’re obviously quite early.
“Everyone’s really looking forward to it and, personally, I can’t wait to get out there and give it a bash.”