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The 'didn’t frazzle my head' Rory Darge reaction to Scotland shock
Rory Darge has admitted he is glad to have had a full week to get to grips with the surprise of being asked to captain Scotland for the first time against Italy in this Saturday’s Rugby World Cup warm-up match at Murrayfield.
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The 23-year-old Glasgow flanker, who has only seven caps to his name, was stunned when head coach Gregor Townsend told him last Friday that he had been chosen to lead an experimental XV, with regular skipper Jamie Ritchie among a raft of senior players given the weekend off.
The news was made public on Wednesday when the team was announced, and Darge is relishing the honour. “It’s a bit of a weird feeling,” he said, speaking at the captain’s run press conference on Friday.
“I’m honoured, obviously, but I have only got seven caps at this level so I didn’t really see it coming, but I’m delighted that Gregor has picked me as a captain and sees me as a leader.
“It was pretty special when he told me. It was on the Friday morning last week, not long before he announced the team (internally). I’m glad he did it on the Friday so I had time to get my head around it.
“It didn’t frazzle my head, but I was just glad that I had time to digest it and tell my folks, take time to think about what is expected of me throughout the week and to have those conversations with guys who are more experienced in the role. I know it doesn’t seem like long, but it has just been a bit more time to dwell on it and think about what I’m going to do. It has been a pretty special week.”
Saturday’s game marks Darge’s first appearance for Scotland since the third summer Test against Argentina last July after an ankle injury ruled him out of the autumn Tests and the Six Nations. “It was the worst injury I have had and it was my ankle, so you can lose range and get quite stiff,” he said.
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“The physios and strength and conditioning staff at Glasgow, and the other boys who were injured, helped me get through it because it was pretty tough going into Scotstoun early in the morning when boys were either through here (in Edinburgh with Scotland) or on holiday.”
Darge has been buoyed by the support of other senior players in the squad since being named skipper. “I don’t think so,” he said when asked if the captaincy added any extra pressure on his shoulders. “There are different responsibilities, but it doesn’t change how I act.
“My biggest responsibility is to play well on Saturday so that is what I am focusing on doing. The other stuff will come along with it. I have felt very supported and that has helped. It’s a big honour for me, quite a big deal, so to feel like you are supported and backed is essential.
“I’m just excited for the game. It’s been a long time since I last played rugby (for Glasgow in the Challenge Cup on May 19). Pre-season has been tough so to get the opportunity to put it out there, it can’t come quick enough.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
The 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
2 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.
2 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?
10 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.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
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