Impact of Pittodrie win set to help focus dangers of Tongans
Underestimate Tonga at your peril.
That will be the message from Scotland coach Gregor Townsend to his squad this week as they prepare for Saturday’s match against the Pacific Islanders at BT Murrayfield – the first of four home fixtures that make up this year’s Autumn Nations Series.
The Scots will certainly start as favourites against the tourists, who are 15th – eight places below them – in the World Rugby rankings.
But if any of Townsend’s players need a warning about just how tough this encounter is likely to be, all the coach needs to do is play them a few clips from the Tongans’ shock 21-15 victory at Pittodrie back in 2012.
It was a result that cost then head coach Andy Robinson his job, and one that still sends a shudder through the players who took part for Scotland that day.
Townsend had moved onwards and upwards earlier in the year, quitting his post as Robinson’s attack coach to take charge of Glasgow Warriors.
But he remembers the impact of that November afternoon all too clearly.
“Tonga will probably view that game as a massive high in the history of them as a rugby team,” he said after announcing a squad of 42 for the block of four games.
“And we’ll be working so it doesn’t happen again.”
It didn’t happen two years later, right enough, when Tonga lost 37-12 at Rugby Park.
But Townsend will take nothing for granted against a team who pose a physical threat greater than arguably any other side on the planet.
“They’re very dangerous,” Townsend continued.
“They can score a try out of nothing and they’re a hugelymotivated team. They’re going to be tough opponents.
“I don’t think there’s a team in world rugby, as a group, who tackle harder than the Tongans.”
Unlike the three games next month against Australia, South Africa and Japan, Saturday’s match is being held outside World Rugby’s recognised international window.
That means that English and French clubs are under no obligation to release their players.
So Townsend will not be able to call on the likes of Finn Russell or Duhan van der Merwe.
A Scotland team without the Racing 92 stand-off, or the Worcester winger, is clearly below full strength.
But the coach is convinced there is a value to drawing a full squad from a small number of clubs, in this case, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and possibly South Africa’s Sharks, if uncapped back-row forward Dylan Richardson is picked.
“In international rugby, success is based on cohesion,” Townsend argued.
“It’s tougher for us now to build that cohesion, because we’ve got so many players playing outside of Scotland – but not for this game.”
With Gloucester playmaker, Adam Hastings, unavailable as well as Russell, Townsend will start either Edinburgh’s Blair Kinghorn or Glasgow’s uncapped Ross Thompson at stand-off.
There are another 10 uncapped players in the 42 besides Thompson and Richardson, with several others in the running for a debut against the Tongans.
As Edinburgh openside, Hamish Watson has yet to play since the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
Glasgow’s Rory Darge could get the chance to show if he can carry his outstanding club form into the international arena.
Warriors winger, Rufus Mclean, is another exciting young talent, who could get his chance.
Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoeman is also in line to make a much-awaited debut after qualifying on the residence rule.