Blair must make the fans forget about Finn

The main talking points around the selection for the Autumn Nations Series squad was more about who wasn’t selected rather than who was. Finn Russell has become a bit of an enigma; hugely talented, world-class at times but prone to poor decision-making off the pitch. his non-selection was more about the off-field issues that there have been and the relationship between him and national coach Gregor Townsend. With this game today being outside the official international window, we all knew that Blair Kinghorn would be starting in the No 10 jersey. What an opportunity this is for him. What a chance to lay down a marker on the first game of the season; a season that ends with the Rugby World Cup at the end of it. Kinghorn (right) is a really talented footballer who has divided opinion on his ability to be an international stand-off. The trouble has been that any analysis of Kinghorn is put against what Russell would have done in the same situation. That is really tough for a young player, in experience terms of playing stand-off, against a proven career stand-off who finished the Lions series in 2021 as No 1 choice. Kinghorn is never going to win that battle for respect until he proves those doubters wrong on a stage like this today. he has two big sponsors in his ability; his national coach Gregor Townsend and his club coach Mike Blair. I have huge respect for both. They know their onions when it comes to what is required to be the playmaker in international rugby. One was that player, and one played alongside that player and allowed him to be that playmaker. They have both publicly backed Kinghorn when they easily could have put him back to full-back for edinburgh at the start of the season and for

Scotland today, with Stuart hogg unavailable. This is the stage for Kinghorn to repay that faith. This is the day for him to grab the game and show everyone who has not as much rugby intelligence as Townsend and Blair, why he is the man to wear the No 10 jersey for Scotland. he needs to control things, play it tight when required and get Scotland on the front foot, but then bring his running qualities to the game as much as possible. That is the triple threat that he has as a stand-off; his running game, his kicking game and his passing game. If he gets that balance right today, then this jersey could be his for some time to come — and we then won’t be concerned with who has not been picked anymore.