«TOWNSEND WILL BE FORWARD THINKING — READ ROB ROBERTSON
Plenty of positives but it’s in the pack where head coach must find right mix
IT was a mixed bag for Scotland over the autumn Test series, with two wins and two defeats. Next up is the Six Nations, where it will be vital for Gregor Townsend to answer some tricky questions ahead of the World Cup in Japan later in 2019. Here, Sportsmail’s ROB ROBERTSON takes a look at both positives and the pressing issues facing the Scotland head coach...
Scotland are improving... but so is everybody else.
Two wins over Fiji and Argentina and two defeats to Wales and South Africa is what Scotland were expected to achieve. Under Townsend, they are improving but they’re not alone. Ireland beat New Zealand in Dublin while Wales beat South Africa in Cardiff. England are looking good again and easily brushed aside Australia 37-18.
The biggest shock was Fiji’s 21-14 win in Paris. Scotland scored eight tries against Fiji at Murrayfield in the South Sea Islanders’ first game in November, which was before they got into their stride.
The days of having strength in depth at loosehead prop are long gone.
Allan Dell started three of the four November Tests with Gordon Reid of London Irish starting the other one. Reid was taken off after halftime against the Springboks and was dropped for Argentina. Apart from Glasgow Warriors’ Alex Allan, there are no other contenders for the number one jersey.
This time last year, Edinburgh’s Darryl Marfo was making his debut at loosehead against Samoa and doing well against New Zealand and Australia.
He’s never played for his country since and can’t even get into the Edinburgh first-team squad. With Alasdair Dickinson retired, there is no strength in depth in that role.
Scotland have two top-class hookers in Stuart McInally and Fraser Brown to pick from.
McInally was Scotland captain on the summer tour and is still first choice, although Brown is pushing him hard. They are well ahead of the rest of the contenders that includes Glasgow’s George Hunter who scored a hat-trick of tries against Canada in the summer.
Scotland’s best second-row partnership is unknown.
Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist? Jonny Gray and Toolis? Sam Skinner and Gilchrist? All three combinations were tried in the November Tests. There was not one any better than the other.
It’s a good selection headache to have, especially now experienced lock Tim Swinson has returned to fitness after a long injury lay-off.
Townsend has still to find a consistent and top-class international number eight.
Hamish Watson is the best openside by a long way, with Jamie Ritchie who came of age in the November Tests in prime position. Worryingly, nobody is making the number eight position his own. Ryan Wilson didn’t shine in this series of games and neither did Josh Strauss against Argentina. Matt Fagerson is a contender but still has a lot to learn.
The breakdown needs work.
Scotland lost too much ball at crucial times in this area. Players such as Watson, who are fast and clever when the ball is up for grabs, haven’t done it regularly enough. Time to call in breakdown specialist Richie Gray, who worked with Scotland in the past and is now helping out with Vern Cotter at Montpellier?
Losing Blade Thomson to injury before he could make his debut was a huge blow.
Thomson was concussed playing for Scarlets against Edinburgh the weekend before he was set to make his debut against Fiji. He missed the South Africa and Argentina Tests. The ex-New Zealand Under20 player, who qualifies through his grandfather from Wishaw, can play at flanker and second row.
Sam Skinner could be the answer to Gregor Townsend’s prayers.
The head coach has made clear at least one of the four locks he picks for his 2019 World Cup squad needs to be versatile enough to also play in the back row. Exeter’s Skinner is emerging as the man who is likely to fit the bill. Townsend took the unprecedented step of picking him in the second row for his debut against Fiji and then in the back row for the next game South Africa. He came off the bench against Argentina in the second row in place of Jonny Gray.
He looked at home in both roles, which is good news for Townsend as he hasn’t many other candidates versatile enough to do that.
Greig Laidlaw continues to be worth his weight in gold.
Ali Price, George Horne and Henry Pyrgos were part of the squad for the November Tests but never got a look in when Laidlaw was around. Unavailable for the defeat to Wales, he started against Fiji, South Africa and Argentina.
His leadership from scrum-half was spot on in all the games with his three penalties helping Scotland to squeeze home 14-9 against Argentina at the weekend.
Adam Hastings definitely has the potential to be a top-class fly-half but isn’t there just yet.
Hastings did well on the summer tour but the matches in November were a big step up. He started and struggled against Wales but did well off the bench against Fiji and South Africa. Handed the ten jersey against Argentina, he was part of a Scotland side that didn’t spark in attack.
He has massive potential and although playing him at ten with Russell at inside centre against the Pumas didn’t work, it is a combination worth trying again.
Blair Kinghorn is good enough to be considered as a winger and a full-back.
Townsend likes versatile players and Kinghorn fits the bill. He started at full-back against Wales and on the wing against Argentina. His role for Edinburgh is full-back but can play out wide at the top level. Three tries in his first six internationals is an impressive return.
Who can we look forward to returning from injury, in time for the Six Nations, that can really make a difference?
In the back row, David Denton is only weeks away from full fitness, while regular skipper John Barclay will be back playing in time for the tournament. There remains a question mark over when second row Richie Gray will return following a back operation.
The centres should be reinforced, as well, with hopefully the likes of Matt Scott or Mark Bennett fit.