'I'll fight to the death for my jersey... I won't be shying away from that'
Greig Laidlaw’s halo slipped with Scotland during the 2019 Six Nations. The long-serving scrum-half lost his spot in the starting line-up near the end of the tournament, dropping to the bench for the closing two matches versus Wales and England.
However, rather than accept he is now potentially behind Ali Price in the Scottish pecking order, he is aiming to show Gregor Townsend he is capable of remaining a pivotal player in his national team’s set-up.
“Without a shadow of a doubt I feel I can win the shirt back,” he emphatically said to Scottish media ahead of next month’s World Cup warm-up fixtures.
“I’ll fight to the death for my jersey, I’ll fight tooth and nail for it if I have to. I won’t be shying away from that. Ali (Price) is playing really well, George (Horne) is coming through as a young scrum-half.
“I think I add value to the group and you probably saw that in the latter stages in the game down in England. I still feel I’ve got a lot to give to the jersey and the group, and I look forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”
A close up look at the @Scotlandteam #RWC2019 jersey on Greig Laidlaw!
To highlight our strong ties with Japan and long-standing relationship with the Japanese city of Nagasaki, the Nagasaki tartan is displayed under the collar of the jersey.#AsOne #???? #TheRoadToJapan pic.twitter.com/ncaafm0zxo
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 19, 2019
Being too pedestrian is the criticism regularly laid at Laidlaw’s door. However, the Clermont No9 isn’t allowing that needle to bother him in the countdown to the finals in Japan. “That’s always been there, and it always will be,” he admitted. “It doesn’t bother me. I just worry about myself. My team-mates know what I’m about and there’s no stronger thing than that.
“He [Horne] is fast and he’s an excellent rugby player who has played well for Glasgow. But I’m very fast in my top two inches and that’s somewhere you need to be fast. You’re always trying to add stuff to your game and hopefully, I’m a little bit stronger defensively. That’s something I’ve worked hard on.
“Going down to France, I try to play quickly all the time. If the ball is quick, we’re good to go. You’re certainly always trying to develop that. And Gregor is big on his support lines from scrum-half, so that’s something new I’ve been trying to develop.
“It [France] has been excellent. You feel as though you’re playing in big games every week. That gives you a good mindset, so when you do go into massive games, you feel really prepared and you’re playing in front of massive crowds all the time.
“That’s really helped me. You can be more relaxed going into games because you know you’ve got enough armoury in the toolbox to go and win them. Underpinning it all is the way I see the game. My ability to control things, and goal-kicking, that’s all within my control. I’ve got to make sure I look after what I do well.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments