McInally ready to fly for Townsend with firm backing of club coach Cockerill

AS A qualified pilot Stuart McInally knows what it feels like to fly high. He also knows the importance of keeping composure under the most demanding of circumstances.

The Edinburgh hooker will need all these attributes in the coming weeks as he emerges from the shadow of Ross Ford and into frontline action for Scotland.

Sportsmail revealed over the weekend that an injury picked up during a gym session will keep Ford out of action for the entire autumn Test series.

It gives Scotland coach Gregor Townsend a headache over who to pick at the centre of the front row, given Fraser Brown is also unavailable for selection.

But it presents an opportunity for McInally, described by Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill as ‘the form hooker in Scotland’.

That being the case, perhaps he would have been selected anyway. But the 27-year-old’s jump from third to first choice raises the tantalising prospect of starts against Samoa on Saturday and then New Zealand and Australia.

‘I think Stuart should play next week against Samoa,’ said Cockerill. ‘He has been the form hooker in Scotland. He has been really good and has worked hard at his game. On form, he deserves to start for Scotland.

‘Stuart is a very good ball carrier. He works very hard in defence. He is a good leader. I just think he has a very complete game.

‘He is a very good set-piece player now and his throwing is improving all the time. He is a very good footballer as well and really gets around the park. I think he will suit how Scotland want to play in their coming games.’

The autumn Test series, which kicks-off this weekend, sees Townsend make his home debut as Scotland coach. But despite that positive prospect, he does not have his problems to seek.

There are issues at loose-head prop. Traditionally one of the strengths of the team, it could be one of the weaknesses in the next three matches.

British and Irish Lion loosehead prop Allan Dell, who would have started against Samoa, is out with a groin injury. Gordon Reid and Alasdair Dickinson are also out of contention in that vital position through injury.

The only specialist loose-head props left in the Scotland squad are both uncapped. Darryl Marfo is a 27-year-old journeyman who Cockerill freely admits was signed as ‘fourth choice’ loosehead at Edinburgh. Jamie Bhatti of Glasgow Warriors spent most of his career up until this season playing for Melrose. Now one of them, expected to be Marfo, will have to start against Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

‘I’m obviously delighted for guys to get their opportunity and Darryl has worked hard,’ said Cockerill. ‘Through circumstance he’s got an opportunity. It’s pretty unusual to have Dickinson and Dell unavailable. There’s an injury with Reid, too, with Scotland, so you’re starting to test the depth of your squad.

‘He’s come in as fourth-choice loosehead for Edinburgh and he’s done exceptionally well. Scotland wouldn’t have picked him if they didn’t think he could play at that level.’

There is better news for Scotland at tight-head prop, with Zander Fagerson, Willem Nel and Simon Berghan all fit and available for selection.

Even so, a makeshift front row won’t put the fear of death into the Samoans, let alone the All Blacks and Australia.

What will is the strength in depth in the Scotland backline. Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour, as well as fly-half Finn Russell, were all rested for Glasgow’s weekend win over Leinster at Scotstoun.

Add into the mix centres Huw Jones, who comes into the Scotland squad off the back of winning the Currie Cup with Western Province, and Alex Dunbar, who played his first game for Glasgow in a month in the win over Leinster following injury, then that is a selection headache Townsend will enjoy.