Gav’s World Cup Squad: v2.0: the Backs

Gavin Harper

8 years ago

Back in March, I attempted to select a World Cup squad for Japan next year, based on the Six Nations. Now that the summer tour, and the 2017/18 season is at its end, I’ve revisited that squad and there are a few changes – I’ve also cut the squad down to just 31 which, as many people pointed out at the time, was the normal size of a Rugby World Cup squad in 2015.

Scrum-half

It is probably fair to say that Greig Laidlaw is still ‘nailed on’ here, but what’s interesting is that there are now potentially two spots up for grabs. Ali Price has lost some of the form that saw him talked of as the heir-apparent to Laidlaw, and George Horne has taken the number nine jersey – with varying degrees of success – for Glasgow. Horne has electric pace and his link work is second-to-none in the country, and he’s worked on his pass to improve that area but his box-kicking can be somewhat erratic, as Glasgow fans will remember from the Pro14 semi-final.

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne had a great run as his time with Edinburgh drew to a close and he’ll need to build on that with the Scarlets, but for now he’s in great form and comes with the added bonus of being an assured goal kicker. I’d argue that at the moment, in a full-strength XV, he’d be backing up to Laidlaw off the bench.

That leaves it between Horne Junior and Price: Horne’s performance against Argentina alone was outstanding, however dreadful the Pumas were. It’s tough to leave Price out because he’s served Scotland well in the past, but his form since THAT game in Cardiff has been below the levels of last year and for that reason, he narrowly misses out. Unlike Price who will have plenty of opportunity to get back in, Hidalgo-Clyne may also struggle for game time at the Scarlets which could affect this decision when we revisit it in November.

Charlie Shiel is another to have been exposed to the national set-up over the summer. Henry Pyrgos, who captained Scotland at the 2015 World Cup, and Edinburgh’s Nathan Fowles have a lot of ground to make up.

Selected: George Horne, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Greig Laidlaw

Unlucky to miss out: Ali Price

Stand-off

With Finn Russell off to Paris and Racing 92, Adam Hastings was given a run in two of the summer tour matches and while there were no glaring errors, he still has a long way to go before forcing his way into this squad. That said, his game should come on leaps and bounds with regular game-time at Glasgow next season, and he is a natural 10 – something Scotland are crying out for to back-up the mercurial Russell, whose place is in no doubt, barring injury.

Ruaridh Jackson played at 10 against a very limited Canadian side and Scotland cruised home, so he is another option – albeit he would need some games at 10 for Glasgow before he could be considered.

For me, it’s as-you-were, with Peter Horne backing up Finn.

Selected: Finn Russell, Peter Horne

Unlucky to miss out: Adam Hastings

Centre

Horne’s inclusion (see above) means that there’s probably only a need for four centres and with a relatively small squad, you’d want versatility.

Ideally Duncan Taylor fills that role as he can play on the wing too, but he badly needs a run of games to play his way into the mix – the Saracen has had a wretched year with injuries and sat out all three summer tour games despite being in the squad. There are also guys like James Lang and Chris Harris to consider who can cover extra positions (standoff, wing respectively).

Alex Dunbar and Huw Jones have been, when fit, the first-choice pairing for Townsend, but there’s always Nick Grigg and Edinburgh’s likely first choices next season, Mark Bennett and the returning Matt Scott to consider.

If we pencil in Dunbar and Jones that leaves probably only one more spot as Horne will largely be used as a centre despite being named here as the back-up 10. Taylor would be favourite if he can get over his injury troubles, but if not, Grigg could be the man to board the plane.

Selected: Alex Dunbar, Huw Jones, Duncan Taylor
Unlucky to miss out: Nick Grigg, Mark Bennett, Matt Scott & Chris Harris

Wing

Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland are both British & Irish Lions, and are an integral part of the national squad, so we’re still putting them straight in despite playing no part over the summer.
With Tim Visser having donned the dark blue for the final time and Blair Kinghorn – who did travel – having shown his worth on the wing, there’s arguably only one wing spot left in the 31-man squad.

Lee Jones and Byron McGuigan would be contesting that spot – along with Dougie Fife, who’s had a terrific season for Edinburgh. All three played on tour but Jones went home injured. McGuigan’s record in the Aviva Premiership edges him slightly ahead of his rivals, but good yearl-long campaigns for either Jones or Fife could put them on the plane.

There’s plenty of firepower in reserve here too – Rory Hughes, Damien Hoyland and Darcy Graham are all still young and developing their games, but are yet to reach the heights of the selected quartet.

Selected: Byron McGuigan, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Blair Kinghorn
Unlucky to miss out: Lee Jones, Dougie Fife

Full-back

In March I said in March, Stuart Hogg is nailed-on here, and rightly so.
He’s probably the first name on the team sheet, but he does need some competition – Kinghorn is the man to provide that and now he has some Test experience at 15, albeit limited – he may be better utilised on the wing for now and has been selected there.

Selected: Stuart Hogg
Unlucky to miss out: Ruaridh Jackson

Scotland Backs (13): George Horne, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Greig Laidlaw; Finn Russell, Peter Horne; Alex Dunbar, Duncan Taylor, Huw Jones; Byron McGuigan, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour; Blair Kinghorn, Stuart Hogg.

Next up tomorrow: the forwards.