Taylor at full tilt to seal World Cup spot after his injury hell
DUNCAN TAYLOR last night insisted he is desperate to make up for an agonising year on the sidelines by playing a major role for Scotland at the World Cup in Japan.
Out of action since suffering a horrific knee injury in a reserve game for Saracens last August, the 29-year-old centre has been given a chance to prove he can make a stunning comeback for Gregor Townsend’s men when they kick off against Ireland in Yokohama on September 22.
Yesterday, after being put through his paces under a scorching Portuguese sun at Scotland’s training camp on the Algarve, Taylor said he is determined to show that — despite not playing for almost 12 months — he deserves his place in the side on merit rather than on past reputation.
‘In my own head, I feel 100 per cent that I could play tomorrow,’ said Taylor, who won the last of his 21 caps against Fiji in June 2017.
‘It is always hard being out of action that length of time and wishing you were out there playing.
‘Being out so long makes me even more hungry to get out there again on the field.
‘I am desperate for a game now and desperation is probably the right word for how much I want to go to the World Cup.
‘It’s the pinnacle, something you dream of. The last one didn’t quite work out and I missed the 2015 one through injury.
‘I’ll have fingers and toes and everything crossed this time. I still have to prove to the coaches that I deserve the right to be taken to a World Cup but I’m confident I’ll get there.’
Taylor was going about it the right way yesterday, taking part in an arduous two-and-ahalf-hour morning session, which was his toughest to date since his injury.
He also came through another punishing session in the afternoon with flying colours.
Townsend clearly has faith in the Saracens star after picking him in his 44-strong World Cup training squad.
And Taylor is looking at the current training sessions and four World Cup warm-up games as one long trial to show he is good enough to make the tournament.
‘Yeah, absolutely,’ he continued. ‘I need to prove I can train fully with the guys and that I’m match-fit and able to play to the best of my ability.
‘Hopefully, these next few weeks of training will help, conditioning wise, so I can take all the strain of international rugby.’
Reflecting on the upsetting events of last summer, when he lay crumpled in a heap during a Saracens A-team game, Taylor is confident the bad times are behind him.
And he thanked the staff and players at Sarries for making him feel part of things — even when he was reduced to a bystander while they won a Premiership and European double last season.
‘I had played in two of Saracens’ pre-season games, then I went into the first Saracens A-league game of the season and that is when I hurt my knee,’ he said.
‘I landed on my knee after an innocuous tackle. It was a freak injury.
‘My knee hyper-extended one way. I tore my ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus and they had to operate. It was the whole lot.
‘Despite the seriousness of the injury, I always thought I would come back, even though it was a nine to 11-month return to play.
‘Nine months took us to June, which was the weekend of the final of the Premiership (against Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham).
‘Although I was injured, Saracens are amazing at making you feel involved. The fact that they let me come in, sit on the bench for the final and do the warm-up with the boys is testament to that. They made me feel a part of the European final as well (against Leinster).
‘It was obviously a long journey to win the double and I was gutted to not be involved but I was buzzing for the ones who were able to get them over the line and win a European Cup and Premiership.
‘Our Saracens strength and conditioning guys and our physios have worked so hard to get me back to being able to play and get involved in this World Cup. I’m very grateful to be in this position with Scotland.’
Taylor can play full-back, centre and on the wing. That versatility has helped his chances of making the final 31 players who will be on the plane to Japan.
Scotland assistant head coach Matt Taylor — no relation — made no secret of how delighted he is to have him back in the mix for selection.
‘Duncan gives everybody around him a bit of extra confidence,’ he said.
‘He can talk with real clarity and brings a cohesion to the defence particularly. It is a great fit to have him back in.
‘He has trained really well and it is great he is back. I have not seen any hesitation in him. That is the great thing about Duncy. When he comes back, he always goes flat out.’