Forget Japan, I’m totally focused on the Six Nations
Gregor Townsend named seven uncapped players in his 39-man Guinness Six Nations squad.
Normally, that amount of new blood would suggest a desire to experiment.
And that impression could be reinforced by the fact that this is a World Cup year, so the Six Nations might not be seen as the main focus.
But Townsend’s selection has been influenced by a lengthy injury list.
He is missing the likes of flanker John Barclay, prop Zander Fagerson, lock Richie Gray and centre Duncan Taylor.
The situation at hooker is most acute, with Glasgow duo Fraser Brown and George Turner still some weeks away from fitness.
With the best part of 20 players unavailable, the Dark Blue squad could have a whole different hue come the World Cup in Japan this autumn.
Townsend, however, insists the Land of The Rising Sun is the furthest thing from his mind right now.
He says: “We’re totally focused on the Six Nations.
“The Six Nations doesn’t change in its importance in a World Cup year, it just means for rugby fans we’ve got two outstanding tournaments.
“The Six Nations has grown in quality and exposure over the last few years with the quality of teams and more media involvement, and I believe it’s still going to be the same from a supporter’s point of view with great weekends and great rugby on show.
“So this year it’s still the same tournament – a hugely important tournament – to us, as Scotland. “We’ve picked as experienced a squad as we feel we can put together because this tournament is about making sure that players know the level that is required.
“It’s much tougher than November Tests, much tougher than summer tours. We have to play at our very best to do well.”
One player, in particular, the coach is delighted to have fit and available is vital playmaker Finn Russell.
The stand-off signed for Paris club Racing 92 in the summer, and French clubs are known for long and brutal seasons but, if anything, Russell has improved.
“It’s been great to see how well he’s continued his form,” says Townsend.
“He started the season really well and since he’s gone back after November his running game has come out more. He’s really attacking the line, bringing others into play more.
“Finn plays a lot of rugby and that’s a good thing in terms of learning about different opponents and building on what you’ve done the week before, and hopefully he gets through this weekend OK because that’s the only downside of playing a lot of rugby, you do have more chance of getting injured.”
Johnny Sexton is one of Russell’s predecessors in Racing’s 10 jersey and Ireland used to be dismayed at the condition in which he turned up to national camps after a punishing club schedule, but Townsend says: “Racing have been excellent.
“They rested him the week before the November Tests and the week after and I understand they’ll rest him again soon.
“They understand that if Finn’s going to be playing international rugby, he can’t be playing every single week for them to get the best out of him.
“But he’s probably played more rugby than he’s ever played, just because the French season starts earlier and doesn’t have the same protocols (he could only play five games in a row) he would have had with Glasgow.”