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3 improved aspects of play have ended Matt Scott's Scotland exile
Gregor Townsend has praised Matt Scott for fighting his way back into contention for Scotland as the Leicester centre prepares to win his first cap in four-and-a-half years against South Africa at Murrayfield on Saturday. The 31-year-old has appeared 39 times for his country but his last start was in Townsend’s first match in charge against Italy in Singapore in June 2017, while he won his last cap a week later as a replacement in the victory over Australia in Sydney.
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A combination of injury, indifferent form, increased competition and Covid call-offs have stopped Scott from adding to his tally in the intervening period, but he will be back in the thick of it when he starts against the world champions at Murrayfield this weekend. The former Edinburgh player is one of four changes to the starting XV from last weekend’s win over Australia, with Rufus McLean, Nick Haining and Stuart McInally also added to the team.
“There were areas of his game we needed to see him improving and we feel he has done that,” said Townsend. “He has gone and shown what he can do for Leicester and has come back into top form in the last six to twelve months. He has started the season really well. Where he is in relation to the last time he played for us, there is much more competition at centre.
“Even though he is playing his best rugby, he is now competing against some other very good centres. His big strengths are his carrying, his work-rate and defensively he has really improved over the last twelve months. Those three elements are going to be massive this weekend.
“Like with Rufus and Nick, we want to give players opportunities in this period that we feel are deserving, that we feel can push for a starting place in the Six Nations or potentially get into a World Cup squad. If we just went through November picking the same team, yes, there is cohesion, but we are not getting to learn about other people and how they either thrive or don’t play as well when they get the opportunity, and so far our players have grabbed the opportunity in the first two games.”
“You’re just waiting on the news each day, you are waiting for your agent to call"
– Back on the Scotland scene after a fine season at Leicester, Matt Scott has impressively moved on from last year's angst when he had no offer for ages w/@heagneyl ??? https://t.co/yHfh4NLQyC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 13, 2021
Townsend is looking forward to seeing how Glasgow wing McLean gets on after being recalled to the side following his two-try debut against Tonga in the first of the autumn Tests. “We have got really good competition at wing,” he said. “I thought Rufus was outstanding against Tonga He just thrived in that Test match environment. Darcy Graham or Kyle Steyn could have been involved this week but we think Rufus is ready and can offer something different. Some of the elements of his game, whether it is contact work or kick-chase, are exceptional and I’m sure he’ll be asked to show that this weekend.”
Townsend explained why he has chosen to give Haining his first start of the autumn series in the back row in place of Hamish Watson, who started both previous matches. “There are two reasons behind that decision,” he said. “One is around Nick, who we believe will perform well in this game.
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“He played a very physical team out in Paris at the end of the Six Nations and performed well. I thought he came off the bench and did really well against Tonga, and he was unlucky to miss out last week. We think the style of his play can really test our opposition this week. On the other side, it’s a case of what we feel is best for Hamish.
“He hadn’t had any rugby before the Tonga game and we got him through 40 minutes of that game before he played well against Australia. But we’ve got to have a view on where he is after so little rugby. We also believe Hamish can make a big impact in the second half because this game is as likely to be decided by how well teams play in the last 20 minutes as much as in the first 20 minutes.”
It was August 7 when the Scotland talisman was thrown into the Lions series decider in Cape Town#SouthAfrica #SCOvRSA #AutumnNationsSeries #Springboks #Scotland #Lions
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 10, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on the @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments