Townsend explains exactly why he has dropped Scotland skipper Greig Laidlaw
Gregor Townsend insists dropping Greig Laidlaw for Saturday’s clash with Wales is not the beginning of the end for the skipper’s Scotland career.
The Clermont Auvergne scrum-half has paid for his part in back-to-back Guinness Six Nations defeats to Ireland and France, with Townsend opting to start Ali Price against Warren Gatland’s Grand Slam-chasers.
Laidlaw turned 33 last October and some will speculate his days are numbered after Townsend confessed he is giving Price a shot as he experiments ahead of this year’s World Cup.
There is no doubt the former Edinburgh ace has not been at his best during the Six Nations so far, so will have to watch from the bench as his understudy gets his chance to prove he can be the man to steer Scotland towards Japan 2019.
But Townsend is not ready to discard Scotland’s second highest all-time points scorer just yet as he insisted Laidlaw still has a vital role to play. “We know there is a big tournament on the horizon and we will see what happens after the World Cup,” said the head coach.
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“That tends to be the time when players reassess where they are, when the coaches reassess what is their next challenge. We know Greig is determined to play his best, play well for Scotland and win for Scotland. He is the only player who has started the last six games, which shows how important a member of our squad he is.
“We had two weeks to reflect on why things didn’t work over in France. We looked at every position, and we also reflected on the fact we’re out of the championship. So if someone has earned their opportunity, Ali Price for example, this is a good time to see if it helps the team win at the weekend.
“Greig is a key part of the squad. He will have a different role off the bench but he will have an important part to play on Saturday.”
WATCH | Gregor Townsend talks about the changes made to the team to face Wales this Saturday at BT Murrayfield and pays tribute to the Glasgow Warriors pair that will make their 50th appearance #AsOne pic.twitter.com/Kxe9HyUgUd
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 7, 2019
Price will look to make more of this opportunity than he did against the Welsh 12 months ago. The Glasgow Warrior was given the nod over Laidlaw in last year’s opener at the Principality Stadium but handed the hosts their first two tries in a 21-10 flop.
He then had to wait another nine months before being trusted to start a further game for Scotland – ironically against Wales again in Cardiff last November. He will now link up with the fit-again Finn Russell, who returns after missing the Les Bleus defeat with a head knock.
Townsend expects no repeat of his 2018 horror show. He said: “This isn’t a reflection on how Greig is playing, it is a reflection of how Ali has been going.
“Ali deserved an opportunity to start at some stage, and we believe this weekend is the right time to do it. I believe he’s more resilient after last year. Most players go through periods when things don’t go so well for them.
“He didn’t play as well for club and country during this period last year but physically he is in good shape, and we have seen a step up in his form for Glasgow since November.”
It has been a morale-sapping tournament for Scotland so far but Townsend wants his side to come out fighting. “The Welsh players and supporters and neutrals will believe Wales are the better team and will win,” he said. “We will have to just wait and see on Saturday afternoon.
BREAKING | Jonny Gray and Tommy Seymour will make their 50th appearance in a Scotland side – that features four changes – against Wales in the Guinness Six Nations this Saturday at BT Murrayfield (kick-off 2.15pm) – live on BBC.
4️⃣ ➡️ Russell, Price, Graham & Nel all start pic.twitter.com/BflNT5FtNp
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 7, 2019
“We realise we have not shown a true picture of what we are capable of. We have come up against some excellent teams in the past, teams that have been on good winning records and risen to the occasion and played at our best. We know that is what we have to do to win.”
Stuart McInally will lead out the team in place of Laidlaw, while Edinburgh prop WP Nel and wing Darcy Graham come in to start. The Glasgow duo of Jonny Gray and Tommy Seymour will win their 50th caps.
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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
39 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.
39 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
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
50 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
39 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.
39 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.
39 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.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments