Glen Young tipped for Scotland recall this Six Nations
Rejuvenated Edinburgh lock Glen Young has been backed to win a recall to the Scotland squad for the Six Nations after a change of fortunes under new coach Sean Everitt.
The 29-year-old has featured in all 11 games for the capital club this season, one more than he managed in the whole of last term. He has started nine of them, all but one alongside co-captain Grant Gilchrist in the second row, and impressed with his lineout prowess and athleticism around the field.
The former Harlequin’s consistent excellence has propelled him back into Scotland contention after making his debut on the 2022 summer tour of Argentina and winning a third cap off the bench in their final autumn Test later that year – also against the Pumas – before falling out of favour.
With Leicester’s Cameron Henderson ruled out for the rest of season with a knee injury and Jonny Gray yet to make his return for Exeter, Gregor Townsend is assessing his back-up options for the more established Richie Gray, Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings as the head coach prepares to announce his Six Nations squad on Tuesday.
Young’s form seems likely to be rewarded, a pre-season chat with Everitt after the South African’s arrival last summer having ignited a change in the 6ft 7in Borderer’s approach.
“We had a conversation at the beginning of the season and chatted about where he wanted to go,” Everitt said. “Obviously he was not happy with the amount of game time he had in the previous campaign but ultimately it’s the player who has responsibility for the amount of time he gets. He needs to perform in training and on a Saturday, and if he’s consistent and one of the top performers in his position, he will get recognised. That is what Glen wanted and that is what he’s got.
“He has worked extremely hard to get to where he is now and the form is in, so much so that we can select him at blindside flanker. His lineout contesting is one of his great strengths.
“He may be 29 but there are positions to challenge for and he would certainly love to play for Scotland – that is his motivation. He’s a family man and wears his heart on his sleeve and his work-rate and effort is to be commended.
“He needed to work on his effort off the ball to get himself into better positions to carry, and also on his physicality in his ball carrying. When you look at the line-break in our last game against Glasgow when we broke down the left wing with Ali Price, Glen was one of the first players there – in the number four jersey – so he has really responded and he is enjoying his rugby at the moment.
“His set-piece is his strength and he’s comfortable calling the lineout when Grant Gilchrist isn’t there. At the same time, he’s versatile and athletic and mobile, and blindside is a good option for him when we have stock in the lock positions.”
Young has been moved to the No.6 jersey for Saturday’s sold-out European Challenge Cup fixture against Gloucester at the Hive Stadium. That versatility may prove key to maintaining a regular place now that Sam Skinner, another Scotland lock, has returned to fitness.
The former Exeter Chief missed the first half of the campaign with a knee injury but makes his return on Saturday. Although he only has one match to prove his fitness before Townsend names his squad, Everitt believes the 28-year-old, capped 30 times, has credit in the bank.
“With the experience and quality of a player like Sam, I’m sure he will always be on the national team’s radar,” Everitt added. “Unfortunately he had a setback in his return to play and was out for longer than expected.
“But he’s got this game to show what he is worth. He also had 30 minutes against Glasgow ‘A’ in the week prior to the game [against Glasgow] at Murrayfield and did some good things in that game, when Gregor was there watching.
“Sometimes as a coach you will always go back to the players you know and trust. I’m sure Sam and Gregor have a good relationship and hopefully he does enough to convince Gregor he is the man for the job.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Who listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
40 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
40 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
40 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to comments