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'I think he qualifies in the last two weeks': Soon to be eligible Scot eager for Test rugby
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Franco Smith believes Glasgow full-back Josh McKay is ready to enter the Test arena with Scotland next month when he qualifies for his adopted country via the five-year residency rule.
The swashbuckling Kiwi from Kaiapoi, just north of Christchurch, has been a pillar of consistent excellence for Warriors since arriving at Scotstoun in mid-November 2021, racking up 85 games – all starts – and 25 tries to date.
The 29-year-old will not be available for the Scots’ opening Test of the November Nations Championship block against his native New Zealand and it is unclear whether he would be eligible for the Test against Australia on 15 November.
But Scotland’s third match against Japan, on 21 November, looks a more realistic option should Gregor Townsend opt to bring McKay into the fold alongside likely around 18 of his Warriors team-mates when he unveils his squad on Monday.
“I think he qualifies in the last two weeks [of November],” said Glasgow head coach Smith. “Whether he’s going to be picked or not, I can’t say. It is everybody’s dream to play international rugby. We always speak about there being two types of players here: internationals and players who want to be internationals.
“I think he’ll be very excited at qualifying and having that opportunity. He’s been here five years now and I think you can’t help thinking there’s a slight possibility and it will be fantastic for him.”
McKay started Glasgow’s first three URC matches this term before sitting out last week’s Champions Cup opener against Sale, with Kyle Rowe starting at full-back, as he will again in Saturday’s URC trip to face Benetton in Treviso, with McKay rested again.
Smith confirmed McKay is “100 per cent fine” and “trained really well this week”, adding: “We’re excited to have him fresh next week, so you can put him on the team sheet.”
This week’s selection may also be with one eye on Scotland’s Murrayfield date with New Zealand in a fortnight.
At least half the Warriors starting side – maybe a dozen of the 23 – aiming to maintain their unbeaten start to the season at the Stadio Monigo will be suiting up for Scotland in that All Blacks game, with most unlikely to feature in Glasgow’s final URC game before the international window against the Lions next Friday.
Rowe, nominally a winger, has started at full-back in nine of his 19 Tests for Scotland, including against Argentina and South Africa in July when Blair Kinghorn was rested after an intense two seasons in France with a British and Irish Lions tour in between.
Kinghorn has only had two outings for Toulouse this season and not played since he started against Vannes on 19 September, although is reportedly coming to the end of a “reconditioning” phase after missing their last four games.
United Rugby Championship
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Edinburgh
3
3
0
0
14
2
Glasgow
3
2
0
1
13
3
Bulls
3
2
1
0
11
4
Stormers
3
2
1
0
11
5
Sharks
3
2
1
0
10
6
Cardiff Rugby
3
2
1
0
9
7
Lions
3
2
1
0
9
8
Dragons RFC
3
1
1
1
9
9
Munster
3
1
1
1
9
10
Leinster
3
1
2
0
8
11
Ulster
3
0
1
2
8
12
Scarlets
3
1
2
0
7
13
Ospreys
3
1
2
0
6
14
Connacht
3
1
2
0
5
15
Benetton
3
0
2
1
5
16
Zebre
3
0
3
0
1
Townsend can also call upon versatile Bristol back Tom Jordan, who has started at 15 six times for Scotland including their last Test against Fiji, and will be deployed there again on Saturday for a third time in four PREM games for Bristol this season.
Another Glasgow option is Ollie Smith, but Rowe would appear to be the front-runner to face the All Blacks if doubts persist over Kinghorn’s fitness.
“I don’t know where he is in the pecking order with other full-backs or what Gregor’s plans are regarding team selection, but Kyle’s been playing well,” noted Smith. “His name has been mentioned more often than not around playing in that role for Scotland.
“We’ve played him there for various other reasons – obviously, to freshen Josh [McKay] up and make sure the workload this year in the back three is shared better. But Kyle’s in good form and he’s an exciting player.”
While a sizeable chunk of the Glasgow side are shoo-ins for Townsend’s squad, former Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie will be one of several players aiming to re-state their Test claims when he makes his Warriors debut in Treviso.
The 30-year-old former Edinburgh flanker’s last game was more than five months ago, for Perpignan in early May, and Smith is looking forward to belatedly unleashing his new signing.
“He looks excited, to be honest” said the head coach. “He’s trained well and prepared well. I wanted to make sure he goes onto the pitch in his first game unburdened. That’s why we waited a little bit longer. I don’t want him to think too much about what he’s going to do, just how he’s going to apply himself. It was definitely worth the wait.”
Smith has been impressed at Ritchie’s quiet authority amid a leadership group already including Kyle Steyn, Rory Darge, Sione Tuipulotu, Stafford McDowall, George Horne and Scott Cummings.
“Like all the other players, he gives and then gets. That is our mission here. The more you give, the more you’ll get. From the first day, he contributed to conversations and to the environment.
“He obviously wanted to understand a lot of things and in that process, we could revisit some of the detail that was important for everybody. He brings a lot of experience and there’s a calmness about him in terms of leadership.
“He’s a natural leader. He doesn’t have to say much in our current leadership group, but he brings that experience of having played and captained in important matches.”
Smith believes there is still room for improvement in Ritchie’s game as he begins life in a new environment after 11 years at Edinburgh and a year in France.
“I hope he finds that his ceiling is still a long way off,” Smith added. “His carrying ability, defensive approach, energy and ability to turn the ball over are all important.
“I feel he’s developed well physically now. With a foot injury, you usually get an opportunity to strengthen the upper body and the rest of your power game. But in the first game, if we can just see him carry the ball well and do what Jamie does as best he can, that will be enough for us for now.”
Smith has also handed a first Glasgow start to former Scotland Under-20s fly-half Matty Urwin, whose senior club experience to date consists of four minutes off the bench against Munster last January.
“He’s a youngster who’s been knocking on the door for quite a long time,” Smith said of the 21-year-old. “It was also a project for us to bring a young player through.
“He’s got a good kicking game, which is maybe different from the other players in that respect. I feel he’s got a good general understanding of what we want, therefore I’ve introduced him among the other internationals to make sure he’s calm.
“He can just concentrate on his distribution and the way he manages the game. I don’t want him to go onto the pitch with any pressure or expectations. We just want him to contribute as much as he can.”
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