NEW BOYS HANDED CHANCE TO SHINE
SCOTLAND head coach Gregor Townsend has selected six uncapped players for this summer’s tour to South America. Here, he tells Sportsmail about the qualities which have taken each player to the brink of an international debut.
MURPHY WALKER
Age: 22. Position: Prop Club: Glasgow Warriors TOWNSEND: ‘Murphy has really impressed us this year with how well he’s played when he’s had his opportunities. We see him as a tighthead where we see more opportunities for him.’
GLEN YOUNG
Age: 27. Position: Second row. Club: Edinburgh TOWNSEND: ‘He’s a different sort of second row as he can play in the wide channels and he can make a few line breaks, but he also had a hard edge about him around the contact area. We want to see how he thrives at test level and in the test level training environment.’
BEN MUNCASTER
Age: 20. Position: Back row Club: Edinburgh TOWNSEND: ‘Ben is a huge success story. He won young player of the season at Edinburgh. Speed is his biggest asset, with carrying ball as a no 8 or speed on kick chase.’
OLLIE SMITH
Age: 21. Position: Full-back Club: Glasgow Warriors TOWNSEND: ‘With Stuart Hogg absent, someone else is going to be playing 15 this year and there are a few candidates. ollie’s one of them, and it’s up to those candidates to show that they’re worthy of selection and grab that opportunity.’
MATT CURRIE
Age: 21. Position: Centre/wing Club: Edinburgh TOWNSEND: ‘He’s an intelligent rugby player who can run good lines and defend in that 13 channel.’
KYLE ROWE
Age: 24. Position: Wing/ full-back Club: London Irish TOWNSEND: ‘He’s got a real intelligence about his game and he’s another candidate for 15. He’s got a good kicking game.’