1
Townsend blames 'ridiculous' English rugby schedule for decision not to select Taylor
Gregor Townsend has blamed English rugby chiefs for his decision to leave Saracens centre Duncan Taylor out of Scotland’s Six Nations squad.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Dark Blues coach has hit out at the scheduling of Saracens’ Gallagher Premiership clash with Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop just six days before the Scots kick-off their championships against Ireland in Dublin on February 1.
Mark McCall’s outfit are also in Heineken Champions Cup action this Sunday against Finn Russell’s Racing 92 side and Townsend claims that would have left the 30-year-old available for just one training session next week as they prepare for their opener with Andy Farrell’s team.
Taylor has fought back from a two-year injury nightmare to rediscover his best form.
He was one of Townsend’s World Cup picks but has now been axed.
Strangely, however, his club-mate Sean Maitland has been included in Townsend’s 38-man squad.
Explaining his decision, the Scotland boss said: “Duncan is in a position where there is a lot of competition. He is playing well. He obviously missed the whole of last season.
“We rate Duncan very highly and he worked really hard in the World Cup camp fighting against a couple of injury niggles, and obviously hadn’t played for a season.
He's not leaving! https://t.co/BV7wfTaZSp
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 16, 2020
ADVERTISEMENT
“He worked really hard in our away warm-up game in France and in the games at the World Cup he played but he wasn’t back yet up to top form and top speed. However, he has shown that for Saracens over the last few weeks.
“But, unfortunately for Duncan as well as the competition, Saracens play Sunday-Sunday next week.
“That for me is ridiculous – that the Premiership have got a game six days before we play Ireland.
'The pathway that Tompkins has chosen makes a lot of sense for him,' writes @alexshawsporthttps://t.co/lLOevZHA1G
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 15, 2020
“So, we are training five sessions from Monday to Monday, and those Saracens players can only make one of those five sessions.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It is not Duncan’s fault, it is not Sean Maitland’s fault – although Sean is in our squad – and it is not Saracens’ fault to have a fixture the Sunday before the Six Nations.
“None of the England players will play that week, they’ll be away at their camp in Portugal.
“It does make it really difficult for us to prepare the team the best we can. Duncan’s been unlucky in that regard.
“There is a lot of competition in centre but the fact that we know he is only going to make one of those five training days means that we have not included him this time.”
– Press Association
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
51 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