SCOTS CALL UP GREENHORN KINGHORN FOR DUBLIN DATE
Townsend turns to Kinghorn to help combat aerial bombardment
SCOTLAND coach Gregor Townsend is backing youngster Blair Kinghorn to cope with the pressure of taking on Ireland before a packed Lansdowne Road in his first start for his country this Saturday.
Kinghorn’s selection on the wing for the injured Tommy Seymour is the only change to the starting XV that stunned England 25-13 in the last Six Nations outing in Murrayfield.
Kinghorn made his Scotland debut that afternoon, coming off the bench for the last 15 minutes, and Townsend is gambling on Kinghorn being able to replicate his impressive form for Edinburgh on the international stage.
At 6ft 5in and 15 stone, the 21year-old, who has scored 13 tries in 59 appearances for Edinburgh since making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2015, has been compared to Wales and Lions star George North in the way he uses his power and pace to breach defences.
He is also regarded as an excellent footballer, passing and kicking skills honed by regular appearances at out-half and fullback on his way up the ranks.
Those full-back skills, notably high fielding, are seen as a factor in his selection for the Lansdowne Road showdown as Scotland are expecting an aerial bombardment from Ireland half-backs Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton — a tactic which has borne a rich dividend for Joe Schmidt’s men in the past.
‘That’s just expected with their game-plan and the role of the winger is to diffuse that,’ said Kinghorn yesterday.
‘We’ve been working hard on all our skills throughout the week, so come game time, we’ll be ready. I feel quite comfortable on the wing.’
However Kinghorn, who has not started on the wing since the end of last season against Glasgow, admitted that there is an adjustment process to switching from 15.
‘I’ve run in there a couple of times, been training there most of the time I’ve been with the squad.
‘It’s just a bit different, working with your back positioning in the back three. It is quite similar to 15. I’ve just got to listen to the voice behind me — it’s being aware of the situation around you,’ added the Edinburgh man, who said there was an element of shock when he was told by Townsend that he would be starting such big game. ‘We were just at a team meeting and Gregor pulled me aside and told me, it was big surprise but a chance I am really excited for. I’m looking forward to it.’ The other changes to the match-day squad see the Glasgow pair of winger Lee Jones and hooker Fraser Brown back from injury and on the bench.
There was some surprise that 64-times capped Richie Gray did not even merit a place among the replacements but Townsend opted to stay with Gray’s brother Jonny and Grant Gilchrist in the second row with Tim Swinson providing cover.
The coach said he wanted to reward the players that performed so well against England and revealed he has been speaking to his squad individually to try to cure them of the away-day curse that has seen Scotland only win six times on the road since the Six Nations began in 2000.
It means his gamble on Kinghorn is undoubtedly the big talking point and the Edinburgh’s man battle with Ireland’s in-form winger Jacob Stockdale will be fascinating (assuming the Ulster man is named in the Ireland team today).
Stockdale has been in lethal attacking form in this championship (leading the try-scoring table after picking up four in his last two outings) and is similar in age, build and style to Kinghorn.
However, there have been question marks over Stockdale’s defence and, with Kinghorn lacking extensive frontline experience at wing, there is an onus on both players to provide security as well as an attacking threat out wide.
Kinghorn, who admitted to having his own issues with defence, believes he is a more assured player now and ready for the step up.
‘I feel like I always backed myself as if you ever doubt yourself that’s when you make mistakes. I feel a bit more confident in myself, it comes with the team playing well.’
For his part, Townsend has faith in Kinghorn handling whatever Ireland throw at him.
‘He has matured by making mistakes and realising it’s not going to get him too far in his rugby career. You need to go through that period,’ said the Scotland coach. ‘He came on in a huge game for his first cap and made seven or eight tackles in a short period, he looked confident, looked aggressive and we expect him to have the same mindset this weekend.
‘I’ve made him aware of what we like about his game — his work-rate off the ball, his confidence in taking on the opposition and his defence has improved a lot,’ added Townsend, who agreed it was a ‘horses for courses’ selection.
‘We just feel the balance of what we might expect from Ireland, along with the potential weather conditions, means having the extra full-back in the back three is better for us.’ SCOTLAND (v Ireland, Saturday, 2.15, Lansdowne Road). S Hogg (Glasgow); B Kinghorn (Edinburgh), H Jones, P Horne (both Glasgow), S Maitland (Saracens); F Russell (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Clermont); G Reid (London Irish), S McInally, S Berghan; G Gilchrist (all Edinburgh), J Gray (Glasgow); J Barclay (Scarlets), H Watson (Edinburgh), R Wilson (Glasgow). Reps: F Brown (Glasgow), J Bhatti (Glasgow), WP Nel (Edinburgh), T Swinson (Glasgow), D Denton (Worcester), A Price, N Grigg, L Jones (all Glasgow).