Henry is the answer to search for a new Hogg
WITH no other full-back currently challenging for Stuart Hogg’s Scotland jersey, it’s imperative that rising star Henry Arundell is encouraged to switch allegiance from England.
If Hogg gets injured any time soon there is no natural successor — and that is a damning indictment of the country’s strength in depth in such a key position.
Head coach Gregor Townsend has been tracking 19-year-old London Irish full-back Arundell since his man-of-thematch performance for England Under-20s against Scotland in March.
An approach has been made to the Harrow-educated teenager, who has Scottish grandparents, with the promise of inclusion on the summer tour to Argentina.
He certainly looks the real deal, especially after his brilliant solo try against Wasps yesterday in the Premiership, and Townsend will have his work cut out to get him on board.
Arundell (right) still has aspirations to play for England’s senior side after representing them through all the age-grade levels. He also has a Welsh grandparent and the WRU have made their interest known, too.
England head coach Eddie Jones is well aware that Scotland and Wales are in the race to capture the full-back and is considering calling him up for the tour to Australia in the summer.
He may even put him on at the end of the third and final Test against the Wallabies just to make sure he can’t play for another nation.
That may sound a cynical ploy from Jones but it’s an understandable move to make sure one of the best young players in the Premiership doesn’t slip out of his grasp.
The one thing Townsend can guarantee Arundell that Jones can’t is a better chance of playing regular international rugby. England have a conveyor belt of talent at full-back and the competition is certainly greater south of the border. Hogg will be 31 by the time the 2023 World Cup comes along and may have lost a bit of pace by then. Who’s to say there won’t be a vacancy at 15 in the starting team for the global showpiece? Townsend will breathe a sigh of relief if he gets him as back-up to Hogg given his lack of alternatives. Glasgow Warriors have Ollie Smith starting at full-back ahead of Cole Forbes and Josh McKay. He is set to win his first cap this summer but isn’t ready to start in a big Six Nations game or in the World Cup. Edinburgh’s 15 is South African Henry Immelman, who is not eligible for Scotland. Darcy Graham has played at full-back for the capital club but his natural position is on the wing. Jaco van der Walt started there against Ulster because of injuries to others but he isn’t the answer at international level. Blair Kinghorn started out at full-back for Edinburgh and Scotland. Townsend prefers him as back-up to Finn Russell at fly-half and is unlikely to move him back to 15. Huw Jones of Harlequins can play full-back and centre but his face just doesn’t seem to fit under Townsend. Rory Hutchinson has played there for Northampton but is really a centre. The best of the future generation is Robin McClintock of the Scotland Under-20s team who can kick the ball a mile yet isn’t anywhere near ready. Arundell’s heart may say England. His head should say Scotland when it comes to furthering his career at international level.