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The Future of Rugby: Scotland U23
With rugby on pause all over the globe for the foreseeable future, RugbyPass brings you a new series looking at the pick of U23 talent for the top eight ranked nations in the world, and we start with Scotland.
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The lack of live coverage leaves little to do but look into the future and whilst the financial health of the game is in dire question currently, the array of talent ready to make the game their own over the next decade is certainly not.
We have compiled a XV of the players available to Scotland and for the purposes of these selections, all players must be 23 years of age or under on May 1st 2020.
- Blair Kinghorn, Edinburgh
A fine operator, Kinghorn would be a regular in this spot for Scotland already were it not for a certain Stuart Hogg. Nevertheless, he offers excellent cover for Hogg at the position, as well as an ability to play on the wing should it be required. Rufus McLean also waits in the wings, with the current U20 a player capable of making a significant impact in the coming years.
- Robbie Nairn, Glasgow Warriors
It hasn’t quite clicked for Nairn just yet, following stints at Harlequins and in the Scotland 7s side, but there is the core of a very effective player there. The Scottish player pool doesn’t run as deep as that of many of their rivals, so when a player as physically gifted as Nairn comes along, they need to make the most of it. The same goes for Edinburgh’s Jack Blain, too.
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- George Taylor, Edinburgh
Taylor is unlucky that outside centre is a position of particular strength for Scotland, where the likes of Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones and Duncan Taylor all battle it out for playing time. Taylor is doing well at Edinburgh, though, and Gregor Townsend will hope that further exposure at that level sees the centre ready to step up to international rugby in the coming years.
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- Stafford McDowall, Glasgow Warriors
A physical presence that doesn’t lack for ball skills at inside centre, McDowall is one of the success stories of the Scotland U20s in recent years, where unfortunately the age-grade side have suffered the ignominy of relegation to the World Rugby U20 Trophy. A little more seasoning at Glasgow and McDowall could quickly become a candidate for a senior cap.
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- Darcy Graham, Edinburgh
Like Kinghorn, this is an easy call, with Graham having excelled at club level in recent seasons and also shown that he is capable of making the leap to international rugby. Rapid, shifty and a competent reader of the game, Graham is frequently able to make his athletic ability tell in important and decisive moments in games.
- Adam Hastings, Glasgow Warriors
Hastings showed during the recent Guinness Six Nations that he is now ready to step up and compete with Finn Russell for the starting 10 jersey moving forward. He was consistently impressive in the wins over Italy and France, as well as performing well in the narrow losses to Ireland and England. If he continues to back himself moving forward, there’s no reason why he can’t make a case for usurping Russell in the pecking order.
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- Jamie Dobie, Glasgow Warriors
There’s also Charlie Chapman, who played well in the U20s and is now beginning to take opportunities with Gloucester, but Dobie, who is in just his first year out of school, is a very special talent. The 18-year-old boasts a rounded skill set that is rare in someone so young and his vision and instincts on the pitch are as impressive as any of his age-grade contemporaries.
- George Thornton, Glasgow Warriors
Identified by the Scottish Exiles programme whilst studying at Moulton College, Thornton went on to sign a pro contract with Wasps, before making the move up to Glasgow last year. His opportunities have been few and far between for the Warriors so far, though both they and Townsend will be hoping that he can kick on and begin to push for more regular playing time.
- Ewan Ashman, Sale Sharks
Even as Scotland U20s were relegated from the World Rugby U20 Championship last season, Ashman was glimmer of hope in a disappointing season. The hooker’s lineout work was exceptional, and he barrelled his way over for a tournament-leading seven tries. Do not be surprised if Glasgow or Edinburgh make a concerted effort to bring him north of the border in the coming seasons.
- Adam Nicol, Glasgow Warriors
Nicol has done well to feature as much as he has behind the impressive Zander Fagerson and the 22-year-old is turning himself into a very able deputy for the Scotland incumbent. A year or two working with Petrus du Plessis certainly won’t be hurting his development, either.
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- Scott Cummings, Glasgow Warriors
A senior international already, Cummings’ selection here is an easy one. After shining at the U20 level, the lock stepped up well to senior duties with Glasgow and despite a wealth of options that includes the Gray brothers, Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist, Cummings has forged out opportunities and playing time in Townsend’s Scotland squad.
- Callum Hunter-Hill, Edinburgh
There are a few interesting names here, including Andrew Davidson, Alex Craig and Cameron Henderson, but it would not be surprising to see Hunter-Hill enjoy a breakout campaign in the 2020/21 season. He was a very good captain at the U20 level and will have learnt a lot on his season-long loan at Saracens, a side that have no short pedigree developing and producing second rows.
- Jamie Ritchie, Edinburgh
Like his club teammates Kinghorn and Graham before him, Ritchie’s inclusion here is an obvious one. Whilst recency bias will have people thinking of the punch he took from Mohamed Haouas in the 2020 Six Nations, what shouldn’t be forgotten are the abrasive and physical performances he had been putting in to warrant his place in that back row. A future Scotland captain?
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- Luke Crosbie, Edinburgh
Crosbie’s place is already under threat from another young talent in the form of Conor Boyle, but the elder player’s explosiveness and physicality could be something special. His form for Edinburgh has been excellent and recently won him a call-up to the Scotland training squad prior to the Six Nations. A debut cap could have come were it not for Hamish Watson standing in his way.
- Matt Fagerson, Glasgow Warriors
Like his older brother Zander, Fagerson’s rise from the age-grades to senior club involvement and a full Scotland cap was a meteoric one. He has shown an ability to influence the game in multiple ways and can be an option at club and international level at any position in the back row. He will have to keep his standards high, though, as Tom Dodd, Bruce Flockhart and Devante Onojaife will all be keen to show what they have to offer moving forward.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
38 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to comments