‘Fresh’ Fagerson is ready to face Boks as Mcinally flies in as cover

Gregor Townsend is backing Zander Fagerson to step straight back into the firing line for Scotland’s opening match of the Rugby World Cup after naming him in the team to play South Africa in Marseille tomorrow.

The prop has played just 50 minutes of rugby this season following his red card in the warm-up against France at Murrayfield which resulted in a three-match suspension. He missed the subsequent matches against France in Saintetienne

and Georgia at home but was able to replace the final game of his ban with taking part in a coaching course, freeing him up to face the Springboks, arguably the world’s best scrummagers.

Fagerson has put in extra work in training and Townsend had no hesitation in naming him in his team. “He’s fresh,” said the Scotland coach.

“He’s trained really hard and we’ve scrummed a lot. I don’t believe it affects props as much as maybe backline positions where getting touches on the ball, making defensive decisions in difficult situations, you need the match practice. Zander is very fit, his work is going to be in the set-piece and at close quarters. I see it as a bonus that he’s been able to do more fitness work. We had our best scrummaging session of the campaign on Wednesday which was great.”

Fagerson has been Scotland’s leading specialist tighthead for last two World Cup cycles but admitted he nursed doubts about missing out in France following his red card for a dangerous ruck clearout. “It did cross my mind, but I just had to deal with the outcome and take it from there,” said the player. “So, I’m really happy to be here, I’m looking forward to playing again and I’m just really excited about this weekend. Training has been pretty intense so I’ve just kept my head down with that, done my extras and topping it up with the strength and conditioning coaches. I feel in a good place.”

Townsend has been able to name a full-strength starting XV for the South Africa game, with winger Darcy Graham returning to the side after recovering from a quad strain. However, the coach has been hit by a couple of injuries in his wider squad and the hooker Stuart Mcinally has travelled to France as cover for Ewan Ashman, who is recovering from a concussion sustained

Training has been pretty intense so I’ve just kept my head down with that, done my extras. I feel in a good place Zander Fagerson