Scots will be the ‘fittest team at World Cup’
GREGOR TOWNSEND believes his Scotland side are ready to flex their muscles and prove that they are now the fittest team in world rugby.
The Scots will fly out to the World Cup in Japan tomorrow on the back of a victorious send-off against Georgia at BT Murrayfield on Friday night.
That brought up a third successive victory in the warm-up games as they continued to build momentum ahead of their trip to the Far East.
In the second half against the Georgians, Scotland went through the gears in impressive style by scoring four unanswered tries. They won the second period 26-0, with the scoreline having been finely poised at just 10-9 in their favour at the interval.
And Townsend believes his players are now beginning to reach their physical peak ahead of their opening match against Ireland in Yokohama in a fortnight.
Insisting that his would-be champions are born to run, the head coach said: ‘I was pleased with the energy the players brought against Georgia and I firmly believe we’re the fittest team going to the World Cup.
‘We’ve seen it in the numbers they produce in training, the fitness tests and
Friday showed examples of that. They looked sharp in the first half and were still working really hard in the second half.
‘We’ll have to be as fit as possible to take on all the teams we’re playing, especially the first one (against Ireland) and the last one against Japan.
‘Friday wasn’t as accurate as last week (victory in Tbilisi) but there was really good energy within the team.
‘When I replay it in my mind, I have pictures of George Turner, Scott Cummings, Blade Thomson, Jamie Ritchie running on to ball, getting behind the defence and creating quick ball, so that was really pleasing.’
Jamie Ritchie suffered a facial injury during the Murrayfield victory and Townsend was awaiting news on the extent of that knock, although it is not thought to be as serious as many first feared.
Darcy Graham was named man of the match thanks to an electric display of pace, running power and finishing prowess.
The Edinburgh winger was lethal at times, playing a major part in Scotland’s opening two tries before later scoring the fourth himself.
That came on the back of scoring in the victory in Tbilisi last weekend and, in such a rich vein of form, he is now firmly in contention to start against the Irish.
The 22-year-old Hawick man has certainly come a long way in a short space of time since making his debut against Wales in Cardiff last autumn, as Townsend acknowledged.
Of a player who now has five tries in seven caps, the head coach said: ‘I love his attitude. With some players, they need a dozen games to adjust to Test level.
‘Just in terms of what it’s like in the build-up to a Test and will this be any different to how I normally play, are the defences better, there’s suddenly 80,000 in the stadium rather than 3,000 but with Darcy, that’s not been the case for him.
‘That debut in Cardiff, he was only on for seven or eight minutes and made two line-breaks. Then he came on in Paris and made a difference, got a start the next week, scored a try and the following week he got two tries at Twickenham.
‘He’s got an energy about him and an edge about wanting to get on the ball but also wanting to defend and take the game to the opposition.
‘That’s great to have whether it’s starting, off the bench or in training to keep the other guys in that position on their toes.’
Another bonus for Townsend was that Duncan Taylor, who has suffered long-term injury problems, played the full 80 minutes.
‘Duncan worked very hard and a real positive was the fact he played 80 minutes,’ said Townsend.