Watson in reserve is no longer elementary
IF Edinburgh’s embarrassing home defeat to Zebre has taught us anything — apart from the fact the capital club are hideously unpredictable — it’s that John hardie’s selection for scotland ahead of hamish Watson is no longer a foregone conclusion.
hardie has been poor by his usual standards this season and was posted missing in the shock 19-14 defeat to the guinness Pro12 whipping boys at Murrayfield last Friday night.
by contrast, his fellow back row Watson, who watched the whole debacle from the stands, has performed well in the five matches he has started this campaign and was named alongside his new Zealand-born team-mate in Vern Cotter’s squad for the Autumn Test with Australia next saturday.
Although Cotter has made no secret of his desire to start the more experienced hardie against the Wallabies, the fact he’s been hobbling around the scotland training camp in a protective boot has also increased Watson’s chances of stepping out of his shadows.
The 25-year-old is refusing to get too far ahead of himself, though.
With his rival for the no7 jersey for club and country carrying an injury, it’s likely he’ll have no choice but to play for Edinburgh against ulster at Murrayfield on Friday, just eight days before the encounter with the Australians. it’s not an ideal situation, but, if forced into action, Watson will look on it as his final opportunity to persuade national head coach Cotter to start him at openside.
‘i haven’t been told anything about whether i’ll be involved against Australia, so i just have to keep working hard and play well for Edinburgh if i play at the weekend,’ said Watson.
‘i’m not sure whether i will, but, if i do get released (to play for Edinburgh), i’ll just try to do well and push for the scotland jersey.
‘At the moment, hards and me are being rotated, although for the big games like the ones against glasgow just after Christmas, duncan hodge may pick on merit.’
hardie, 28, has played 15 times for scotland since making his debut in a warm-up match against italy ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
Watson won his second cap in that same fixture and has never worn the scotland jersey since. but the quality gap between the two players has been closing in the interim.
Watson also turned up on his first day at camp with notebook and pen to write down all the new plays and tactics he’ll have to learn.
‘i wasn’t involved in the summer tour of Japan, so there are a few new plays that i’ll have to get up to date with,’ he said.
‘Just now, i have to get learning, get revising, as this is my first involvement since that match in Turin nearly a year ago.
‘i’ve been involved in scotland training squads in the past, but then i’ve been cut from the matchday squads.
‘A few boys have been brought in just for training this week, but i think i’ll stay within the 31-man squad for the whole four-week period this time.
‘i like to think i’m improving as a player as i’ve worked a lot on my attack.
‘That’s a big thing for Vern Cotter, who wants his seven to link up with the backs and not just be one-dimensional.
‘i have to be able to distribute the ball well and i think that’s developed over the last season and a half.’
Watson believes that, if there is a raft of injuries in the back row, he could start at seven and hardie at six against Australia.
however, Cotter would only be likely to go with that idea as a last resort as he has the likes of ryan Wilson available.
‘it’s an option and we have done it a few times this season for Edinburgh when one of us has come off the bench,’ said Watson.
‘hards brings a lot of aggressive line speed and puts in some big hits while i think i can offer quite a lot with the ball in hand.
‘i think it could work, but it’s not up to me.’