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Hamish Watson is determined to mark his Scotland milestone with a victory after finally getting the chance to win a 50th cap.
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The flanker will reach the landmark in Salta on Saturday night as Scotland take on Argentina looking to level their summer Test series.
The Edinburgh forward missed last weekend’s 26-18 defeat with a shoulder injury having been denied the chance to reach his half-century during the Guinness Six Nations.
The 30-year-old said: “It was a bit frustrating, I’m not going to lie, especially after having to miss the France game with Covid.
“That was quite annoying and then I hurt my shoulder the week of the Chile game and thought I might be stuck on 49 for a while.
“It was never a really serious injury, it was just one I had to manage. I could have maybe played in the first Test but then if I had hurt it again, that would have been me done.
“I think we made the right decision, the physios and Doc (James) Robson has been really good with dealing with it. It’s probably going to be a tiny bit sore but I have trained all week, done all the contact stuff and it feels pretty good.”
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Watson is particularly keen to be able to enjoy his achievement after being unable to savour his Scotland debut in 2015 – he was sin-binned in the final minute after a scrum infringement which handed Italy a penalty try and Six Nations victory in Edinburgh.
“Especially after my first cap, I didn’t think I would get to 50,” he said. “It’s amazing to be named in the team and to get 50 is quite an exclusive group.
“It’s an amazing achievement for me and my family and for all my friends.
“It’s hopefully about marking it in the right way and making sure we get the win, which is the most important thing.”
Despite not featuring yet during a summer tour which opened with an A international win overt Chile, Gregor Townsend praised Watson for having a key role off the park.
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With forwards such as Fraser Brown, Stuart McInnally and Jamie Ritchie absent from the tour along with Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell, Watson is playing an enhanced role in the leadership group.
“I have really enjoyed it,” the British and Irish Lions international said. “We have a great leadership group who have been there for a couple of years under Gregor in the Six nations, but obviously a few of those boys are away.
“Gregor asked me to step up into that group and it’s something I have really enjoyed, trying to help out with the off-field stuff.
“Obviously I wasn’t part of the Chile game or the first Argentina game but it still meant I could get involved with the group.
“My mindset will always be the same on the field. I’m not a massive talker in huddles but I talk during the game and try to keep the comms up during the game and try and help the boys out. I don’t think my role will change on the field.”
Watson has helped keep spirits high despite the opening defeat.
“It’s actually been pretty upbeat this week,” he said. “We know we didn’t play well at all at the weekend but with the little ball that we had, we still created some really good opportunities and scored two tries and had one chalked off. We tried to see the positives in it.
“Our attack at times when they had the ball did look good and we made it look easy at times but it was just flooded with too many errors and maybe a few penalties at crucial times. We didn’t control the game well.
“So there are a few positives to take and everyone in camp has been upbeat because we have a good team culture.
“We have been trying to stay upbeat but it stands for nothing if we don’t get the win this weekend.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments