Townsend’s abundance of riches for Six Nations
GREGOR TOWNSEND has a Six Nations headache but it is the type of problem every coach will envy.
As he prepares to name his squad on Tuesday the Scotland coach isn’t troubled by a dearth of quality, more an embarrassment of riches. His trouble is who to leave out, not who to bring in.
Of course he has problems finding fit props but apart from that thorny front-row issue Townsend may have to be ruthless.
For instance can you imagine Greig Laidlaw struggling for a starting place in the Scotland team? That day is coming ever closer.
He has been out for three months with a broken ankle and is in a race to be fit for the Six Nations.
Townsend (pictured) will want to name him in his squad given his experience and influence but there is no guarantee he will start any match.
During Laidlaw’s time out injured Ali Price has made the No9 jersey his own.
He provides faster ball and is more dynamic. With Finn Russell showing he can take kicks and John Barclay proving a more than able captain there is less reason for Townsend to select Laidlaw. The Clermont Auvergne player, even if he is fully fit, may struggle to get a place on the bench as Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Nathan Fowles have been doing well for Edinburgh.
Add in the uncapped George Horne, Glasgow Warriors’ top try scorer with seven touchdowns, and Laidlaw is facing a tough fight to get his place back.
The situation is even more bleak for another ex-Scotland captain.
Henry Pyrgos has fallen so far down the scrum-half pecking order he may not even be named in the original Six Nations training squad. Some big name centres will also have to miss out. You have Peter Horne, Nick Grigg, Huw Jones, Chris Harris and Phil Burleigh who all played in the autumn Tests.
On top of that Duncan Taylor is back in the reckoning and Alex Dunbar and Matt Scott are recovering from injury and should be available for selection. Eight into four doesn’t go. In the second row, Richie Gray can’t assume he will waltz back into the Scotland starting team. In his absence, following a back operation, his brother Jonny has been calling the line-out well.
Grant Gilchrist has been in the form of his life playing alongside Ben Toolis at Edinburgh. As unthinkable as Laidlaw not starting for Scotland is, there’s every chance Richie Gray could miss out as well.
Blair Kinghorn may take the place of Ruaridh Jackson, Glasgow’s player of the month no less, as back up to Stuart Hogg who remains confident he will be fit for the tournament.
With winger Sean Maitland able to cover at full-back it could mean bad news for Jackson despite his sparkling form at Scotstoun.
Such strength in depth is a new luxury for a Scotland coach. Townsend is sure to make the most of it even if tough calls lie ahead.