Now Wizard of Oz Toolis is plotting a happy ending against mighty All Blacks
BEN TOOLIS admits his Scotland career has been stranger than fiction after capping his first Test start by taking a selfie with Harry Potter creator JK Rowling. The Edinburgh second row played a starring role in last weekend’s win over Samoa as his family watched from the stands before gaining a personal audience with his favourite author who was part of the Murrayfield audience. It’s been a meteoric rise for the Australiaborn star who aims to write another chapter against world champions New Zealand on Saturday. Toolis’s eligibility for the dark blues is courtesy of his Carluke-born mother Linda and the 25-year-old wizard of Oz insists you couldn’t make it up. He said: “It’s a surreal feeling. Years ago you probably never expected something like this to happen and the fact it is happening is incredible. “It’s a special moment. You sort of underestimate it but when you sit back and realise what’s happening either before or after the game it’s extra special. “It spurs you on and gives you that extra motivation you need. You could be surprised at how much it helps you mentally. “Meeting JK Rowling was quite cool. She usually goes to the games and me and Hamish Watson spoke to her briefly and it was really nice. “It was good to see and for someone like her who takes time out of her day to come and support us means a lot to us. “I’m a big fan. Who isn’t? She just said well done on the win and she’s looking forward to the next few games. She even said to a few of the younger boys well done on their debuts which was nice.” Toolis will line up against the All Blacks with an extra incentive of trying to put one over a nation he faced for the Australian volleyball’s Under-18 and Under-20s alongside twin brother Alex, He admits rivalry is still raw and said: “Growing up in Oz you always have that next-door neighbour enemy and if that’s what’s going to help me get into the right mindset I’ll definitely bring that. It will help
GORDON PARKS
us as a team if I’m involved and deep down there’s always that aggressive edge in wanting to beat them in anything. Even when I was playing other sports, playing against New Zealand you always wanted to get one up on them. So yes, I’m excited.”
Scotland have never won against the best side on the planet and Toolis knows his new-found national pride will ensure he’ll be ready to try to help Gregor Townsend’s men make history.
He said: “I have an understanding of how important it is that we want to win the game and make history as well, so that’s brought a new edge to my mindset. My heritage is here and obviously I’m Scottish now. That’s what I’m looking to do.
“At the back of my mind I have that enemy from growing up but now with living here and being part of the group we know what we want to do and that’s taken over. That’s my mentality at the moment.
“There is always something you are going to find you can exploit. They have lost to a few teams in the last couple of years, Australia and Ireland beat them, South Africa came close. There are always areas you can do damage.
“We will have a great opportunity to score points and put them under pressure. At the back of your mind is ‘what if ’. But we need to train well and play. We can’t get ahead of ourselves. If it happens it will be very special.”
Scotland prop Zander Fagerson enjoyed a quickfire introduction from the bench after WP Nel suffered an arm injury and admits he’s keeping his fingers crossed he gets the nod to face the Kiwis.
He said: “I don’t want to jinx it but I’m just focusing on what I can do to help the team prepare. Nothing’s given. I’d love to play the All Blacks. I haven’t got to play them in the last few years so it would be a dream come true.
“We have suffered injuries but it’s just professional sport. That’s how it goes. It’s just improving that depth. Some young guys have got opportunities, so that’s brilliant.
“It’s great for the country and great for those individuals. You’ve got to think of the positives – you can’t think of the negatives.”
The 21-year-old Glasgow Warrior is gearing up for what would be the highlight of his career so far.
He added: “You grow up watching the All Blacks. I remember playing Jonah Lomu 2011 on my PlayStation – you give it to him, he would hand off everyone and score.
“I’ve played against the All Blacks Under20s a few times. It would be a privilege and I’m looking forward to it if selected.”