Greig Laidlaw, Duncan Taylor, Fraser Brown and John Hardie are among the names to miss out on Gregor Townsend’s first squad for an Autumn International series.
In one sense it is a familiar challenge from his opening stint as Scotland coach, a short series of three tests on back to back weekends. Great for tournament practice and stamina, but not as long as the Six Nations. The challenges of being at home, however, and the increased expectation that brings are a bit different, as is the quality of opposition by a big leap. And let’s not forget, we didn’t beat Fiji.
Following a win over New Zealand last weekend, the Wallabies are no longer the bumbling shambles they looked at times during the summer. New Zealand have announced a touring squad with most of their big names still present. First up is the physical prospect of Samoa, and Scotland can’t afford any more injuries if they are to mount a credible challenge to the World Champs in the middle test. Al predicted a clean sweep in the most recent podcast – but we know which part was talking…
Townsend’s squad includes ten uncapped players as he starts to build towards the 2019 Rugby World Cup and beyond. Some have been included in squads before, like Phil Burleigh, while other names are brand new to the scene.
Last year we were crowing about the quality of our midfield options, but now sadly the question is: who is fit enough to partner Huw Jones – assuming he survives the Currie Cup final?
In news that is sure to make the RFU drop their rattle, Carlisle-born centre Chris Harris (26) has come up through the Newcastle Falcons Academy but has a Scottish granny and might be an option. Former Glasgow man Byron McGuigan is the Premiership’s top try scorer and has represented Scotland 7s in the past, and has also played wing and centre. Edinburgh player Burleigh is another with midfield experience but Matt Scott, Duncan Taylor and Mark Bennett remain on the injured list. Alex Dunbar is however, included – but will he be fit enough? Pete Horne played very well in the loss to Leinster and could be another option.
In the backs elsewhere, Tim Visser has suffered from a lack of game time at Quins and misses out, as does Sam Hidalgo-Clyne who has actually been going nicely for Edinburgh at both 9 and 10. Nathan Fowles makes it in ahead of him. The main questions out back will be who fills the third wing spot (looks like Lee Jones, Dougie Fife or McGuigan) and who deputises for Finn (Pete Horne).
While we’re winding up the home nations, the ghost of Steven Shingler also raises his head with news that former Wales U20 flanker Luke Hamilton (25) – whose father is from Stirling – is also in the squad. Currently playing for Leicester in the back row, he also won the Pro D2 with Agen and spent a season in the Top 14, as extensively documented by WalesOnline. Hopefully the SRU have done the due diligence this time…
Rory Sutherland hasn’t quite made it back to fitness in time which leaves things looking a little thin at loosehead but it is a huge opportunity for Darryl Marfo and Jamie Bhatti both of whom have had plenty of games this season. Sutherland and Allan Dell may be waiting in the wings though and spare a thought for Jon Welsh who could have been another beneficiary of Newcastle’s great form but hasn’t featured for Scotland since RWC 2015. Ross Ford will likely add to his mountain of caps at hooker although Stuart McInally is actually in the sort of form many had hoped for when he first switched roles and could start, but Brown is a huge loss. At tighthead, Berghan has been offering stern competition to Nel for Edinburgh and don’t be surprised to see a Fagerson/Berghan combo at some point.
The second row is about the only full strength area aside from Richie Gray’s absence that we knew about well in advance. Toolis and Gray Jnr should be the pairing but Scott Cummings could get a first cap off the bench.
Some other names are not included this time round: Mitch Eadie (No 8) and Ben Vellacott (scrum-half) remain on the wish fulfilment list, while Josh Strauss and Dave Denton remain in the wilderness even as we continue to struggle for ball carriers. Good times for Jamie Ritchie though who earns a call up and is in the sort of form to go further, while John Barclay has been deemed fit enough to lead the side again. No place as you’d expect for Magnus Bradbury (now stripped of the Edinburgh captaincy) and John Hardie (under investigation for alleged drug use) while Adam Ashe is sadly a late withdrawl with an injury picked up against Leinster.
The question is though, with high hopes from the summer “if we get our top team out in the Autumn”, do we still have the resources to win 2 or even 3 of the autumn tests with the squad available now?
Forwards: Simon Berghan, Jamie Bhatti, John Barclay, Scott Cummings, Cornell Du Preez, Zander Fagerson, Ross Ford, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Luke Hamilton (Leicester), Darryl Marfo, Stuart McInally, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Tim Swinson, Ben Toolis, George Turner, Ryan Wilson, Hamish Watson.
Backs: Phil Burleigh, Alex Dunbar, Dougie Fife, Nathan Fowles, Chris Harris (Newcastle), Nick Grigg, Stuart Hogg, Pete Horne, Ruaridh Jackson, Lee Jones, Huw Jones, Bryon McGuigan (Sale), Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour.
Unavailable through injury: Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors), Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Dell, Alasdair Dickinson (both Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Gray (Toulouse), Rory Hughes (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Gordon Reid (London Irish), Matt Scott (Gloucester), Duncan Taylor (Saracens).
Possible XV: Hogg, Seymour, Jones, Dunbar, McGuigan, Russell, Price; Bhatti, McInally, Nel, Gray, Toolis, Ritchie, Watson, Barclay. If you put that team together, could it beat the All Blacks though on current fitness?
UPDATE: thanks to all the people who spotted I can’t count. Toolis was omitted from my team!