'I think this looks like a deliberate snub': Scottish pundits miffed over Adam Hastings omission
Scotland’s 39-man Six Nations squad named last week had fans and pundits alike baffled when head coach Gregor Townsend omitted Gloucester flyhalf Adam Hastings.
The 25-year-old pivot had become a key contributor to Scotland over the last two Six Nations campaigns, firstly stepping up to guide the side as the starter when regular starter Finn Russell had a falling out with Townsend in 2020.
When Russell returned in 2021, Hastings assumed the role of bench cover for 10 and provided a crucial cameo in Paris when he set-up a last second try to Duhan van der Merwe to give Scotland a well earned away win over France.
Heading into the 2022 campaign, Townsend could not find room for Hastings in his 39-man squad which leaves Scotland with just one genuine 10 for the tournament.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland‘s rugby podcast this week, BCC Scotland’s chiefs sports writer Tom English was taken back by the omission and at a loss to find a reason for the non-selection.
“I’d have to say, some names I had to do some research on,” English told the BBC Radio Scotland panel.
“One name that wasn’t in the squad which really took me back, and that’s Adam Hastings. I can’t figure that out, why he’s not in there. It’s a really curious one.
“Scotland now have one recognised flyhalf in the squad, I mean Kinghorn is in there as well, he’s played 10 for Edinburgh this season but he’s not a natural 10, in my book anyway. So you’ve got one.
“This is a 39-man squad and you’ve got one natural, out-and-out 10. I don’t understand that.”
Equally baffled was ex-Scotland international Peter Wright who couldn’t understand the rationale behind leaving out Hastings and heading into a Six Nations tournament with just one flyhalf.
“Why not make it a 40-man squad, has it got to be 39? So why not just make it 40 and include Hastings. I totally agree,” Wright said.
“You’ve got one out-and-out standoff. Against England I assume Kinghorn is going to cover 10 and probably wing and fullback, which is fine but if you lose Russell in the second or third minute and you putting a guy in that’s never been tested, if that’s how it goes.
“Never been tested at international level. I don’t know the rationale, has he given rationale for it? Has he not picked him on form or not picked him because he just wants to look at other players?”
Podcast host Andy Burke confirmed that Townsend had indicated that the decision had been on form.
“Well he said during the week, Gregor Townsend, he said that players in that position are playing better, i.e. Blair Kinghorn, has played better at 10 for Edinburgh than Adam Hastings has for Gloucester,” Burke explained.
“Listen, Blair Kinghorn is a fine footballer, really, really good footballer,” English interjected passionately.
“But to put him in a Six Nations game at 10, if Finn Russell god forbid goes down injured in the first five minutes against England, Blair Kinghorn is your 10. I don’t think he’s ready to play that kind of game at 10.
“As for ‘he’s playing better than Hastings’, well, Kinghorn has played, I wouldn’t say disrespectfully the ‘fodder of the URC’, but he’s played some of lesser sides of the URC.
“He’s playing behind a pack that’s fairly dominant in games against the lower orders. The best performance they’ve put up this season was against Saracens and he didn’t play in that game.
“It’s curious. It’s very, very curious. Why take the risk? This is a guy who came off the bench regularly and had a fantastic Six Nations championship for Scotland and played very well.
“This is a guy who pitched in when Gregor Townsend and Finn Russell had their disagreement, played really really well throughout that Championship (in 2020). Adam Hastings has done exceptionally well for Scotland.”
Given the stature of Hastings’ performances over the last two years, English then questioned whether this was a deliberate move.
“I think this looks like a deliberate snub to him. It’s a 39-man squad and you can’t find a place for a guy who played all last season?”
Comments on RugbyPass
RIP big man 🙏
1 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to comments