Townsend explains why benching Kinghorn is a 'positive thing'
Gregor Townsend has challenged both Blair Kinghorn and Adam Hastings to prove they can be the first-choice Scotland No10 for 2023. The pair are vying for the fly-half berth after the contentious decision to leave the previous incumbent Finn Russell out of the squad for the Autumn Nations Series.
Edinburgh man Kinghorn played at ten in the summer tour of South America and in last weekend’s narrow defeat by Australia when he scored a magnificent solo try and missed a last-gasp penalty that would have won the match.
Gloucester playmaker Hastings has been given the nod for this Saturday’s Test at home to Fiji, with Kinghorn on the bench in one of six changes to the XV that started against the Wallabies. Townsend admitted that these matches were a chance for both players to stake a claim for the role ahead of next year’s Six Nations and World Cup.
“Blair has played for us in that position in the last five games but this is a chance for Adam to show how well he can fit in at Test level again,” said the head coach. “We are obviously massive believers in Blair. Adam played for us a couple of seasons ago and he has got back to that form this season and even beyond that form – his game management has been excellent this year.”
Townsend, who appears of no mind to give Russell a recall, added that Hastings and Kinghorn bring different qualities to the Scotland team. “Adam is a game manager and also has the ability to run,” he said. “I’d say Blair is a runner-passer and is learning more on the game-management side. Adam is playing regularly and playing very well for a team [Gloucester] that is going really great in the English Premiership.
“The way his team have played this year aligns a lot in attack with what we want to do with our team. Blair is doing that with Edinburgh too. That could be tactical things, how they use the forwards, how they use the width of the field. For both of them it is very easy for them to get into our game plan and Adam has shown he has earned this opportunity. Blair off the bench is also a positive thing – his running game, his pace, his passing, whether that is at ten or in a different position, can really cause damage in the last 20 minutes.”
Stuart Hogg will start his first Scotland match since losing the captaincy to Jamie Ritchie, while Cameron Redpath, Chris Harris, George Turner and Richie Gray are the other players in this weekend’s XV that did not feature from the start against Australia last weekend.
Asked if he had selected the strongest team available to him for the Fiji match, Townsend said: “We believe so. You never know because there are players very close in different positions but we believe this is as strong a team as we could put out.”
The match represents a first Scotland start for 33-year-old Glasgow lock Gray in more than five years. “He has been excellent this year,” said Townsend. “And it just shows you that you can get better with age, both physically and as a rugby player.
“He set the quickest time he has ever run this week in training. He has played very well for Glasgow, two of the games were up there with his best-ever performances, I believe, and he brings his presence at lineout in attack and defence. He will worry opposition when they go to the lineout and he has really improved as a defender too, so it’s brilliant to have him back in the squad.”
Dave Cherry, who started against Australia, has dropped out of the squad through injury. His place in the autumn group has been taken by Fraser Brown, although the Glasgow man has not been named in the 23 for the Fiji match.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
29 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
29 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
29 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
29 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
29 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments