The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Scotland team confirmed for Georgia Test
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend claims to have rejected the chance to experiment for the opening game of the autumn campaign against Georgia – no matter how the team might look on paper.
Even though there is no Finn Russell for now, captain Stuart Hogg and stalwart Jonny Gray are otherwise engaged, there’s a couple of new caps and a couple more who have played sparingly or not at all at Murrayfield for Scotland, Townsend is not for development or experimentation, he says.
“You’ll see by the squad we’ve picked that there is no ‘ development’ here – the only development is how we improve as a team,” he said.
“We believe we’ve picked our strongest squad available in terms of training, the games played, and the cohesion. It’s about respecting the opposition who are a very tough team to break down.
“We’re also looking ahead and the best way to build cohesion is getting teammates to play together as well as training together.”
Russell is on the bench because he’s had just three days and two sessions back with the squad after a year – and, of course, because Adam Hastings grew into the 10 shirt latterly in the Six Nations. Russell is, however, straight onto the bench and will surely win his 50th cap on Friday.
Townsend said: “I don’t think (Adam’s) started the new season where he finished (before lockdown) but that can be understandable given it was such a long break. We’re enjoying seeing him in that 10 jersey but there’s a lot of competition – he knows that. We’re looking for competition with Finn and Duncan ( Weir) to bring out the best in him – to bring out the best in the three of them.”
The dynamic Edinburgh wing Duhan van der M er we’ sdebutw as expected, while it was also assumed Oli Kebble would also debut off the bench at loose head prop.
Sam Johnson’s lack of game time – he’s expected to play for Glasgow this weekend – means James Lang gets his first chance to play at Murrayfield two years after his first cap.
“Last season James really impressed us with Harlequins ,” said Townsend.
“He put on a little bit more muscle, was more dominant around the tackle area and ballcarrying, but still had that fantastic workrate.
“Something we really appreciate as well is his ability to play in different positions.”
Decisions in the second row have been complicated by a groin injury to Grant Gilchrist which rules him out of the entire autumn campaign and Ben Toolis gets the call alongside Scott Cummings, with resurgent Rob Harley the bench choice ahead of Richie Gray.
Townsend said the 6-2 split of forwards and backs on the bench is made simpler by the personnel available and he added: “We’ve often thought about a 6-2 split and we thought this was a good game to try it out.”