HARD HITTING VIEW
This time last year Gregor Townsend was struggling to find enough fit props to take up places in his squad for the autumn internationals. In announcing his squad of 40 players this week, the strength-indepth in the second row was being tested and many Scottish rugby fans will have been googling the name of Sam Skinner. On the injured list in the boiler house are Richie Gray and Tim Swinson, both of whom would have been likely to start in a Scottish 23. Instead, there is an opportunity for Skinner, from Exeter Chiefs, who joins Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toolis as the only specialist locks in the squad, although Rob Harley has been playing in the second row for Glasgow. It is a great opportunity for the youngster to win his first cap as, for the first time, Scotland will be playing four internationals in November, instead of the usual three. Two other uncapped players have also been included in the squad – Sam Johnson, the Australian who was Glasgow Warriors’ players’ player of the season last year and Blade Thomson, the New Zealander and former Hurricane who is now playing for Scarlets in the back row. It brings an ever-increasing cosmopolitan feel to the squad as Scottish-qualified players continue to be tracked down across the globe.
It’s a great opportunity for the youngster to win his first cap
Ironically, Thomson will not be released by his club for the first match against Wales, because it falls outside of the international window for the autumn tests. Ironic as he plays for a Welsh club who will be releasing their homebased international players to face the Scots in Cardiff. This also means that half-backs Finn Russell and Greig Laidlaw will also be at their clubs in France for the first weekend. So Townsend has named four scrum-halves in his large squad, including the very promising George Horne, who has the potential to make a real impact on the international stage in the next few years. Also on the injury list is Stuart Hogg, which will undoubtedly allow Blair Kinghorn to take Hogg’s place at his preferred position of full-back. With Adam Hastings probably starting against Wales instead of Russell, the team will have a very youthful feel to it in Cardiff. Townsend was at pains to stress that this squad is one that will be building towards the business end of the season – the Rugby World Cup in Japan. Testing Scotland’s depth in some key positions can always feel a little stressful, but if this group do as well as the reserve-choice props did last year, then it will be a very worthwhile exercise indeed and will create real competition come the turn of the year.