'Fearless mindset': The reason why Scotland have picked Cameron Redpath for his Test debut
Gregor Townsend had no hesitation about selecting 21-year-old Cameron Redpath for his Test debut when Scotland take on England at Twickenham in this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener, claiming he has taken a shine to the youngster’s fearlessness no matter what situation he finds himself in.
Although a son of former Scotland skipper Bryan, Cameron had recently played for England at U20s level and was involved in training with Eddie Jones’ senior squad during last year’s Six Nations.
Redpath, though, has come into his own in recent months with Bath and despite knocking back an invitation to join up with Scotland during the Nations Cup in November, he has since declared for the Scots at Test level and will now be thrust into the heart of the latest Calcutta Cup clash for his debut.
That first cap will arrive eight days after his fearlessness was highlighted in adversity last week, stepping off the bench at Ashton Gate after Bath had just conceded their seventh try. Having been at Scotland camp earlier that week, it would have been excusable if Redpath didn’t feel up to getting flung into a crisis.
However, he entered the fray on 53 minutes with the lopsided score standing at 48-3 and his determination helped to ensure Bath didn’t concede any further, a resilience that Townsend will now be hoping to see much more with Scotland this spring.
BREAKING: Cam Redpath gets his debuthttps://t.co/PTcBhtMy83
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 4, 2021
“He is good enough to play,” insisted Townsend after unveiling an XV showing five changes from the defeat to Ireland last time out, Redpath, Sean Maitland, Finn Russell, George Turner and Hamish Watson respectively replacing Duncan Taylor, Darcy Graham, Jaco van der Velt, Fraser Brown and Blade Thomson.
“He has played really well for his club this season. I have been really impressed in games away from home or maybe up against it. He has that fearless mindset of wanting to take on the opposition.
“He’s a fierce competitor and he will have a big role to play in defence, but we also see his skills in attack. We think it is the right time for him and he will learn in each Test match he plays. He will learn from those guys inside and outside him and we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.
“We have got a few fearless guys in our backline anyway. That’s the mindset you want. Whenever you are going away from home you want people that are confident to show their strengths, express themselves and when things aren’t going your way, to have a go at the opposition.
“We have seen that from Cam and he seems really happy with where he is in terms of building relationships with Chris (Harris) outside him and inside him. We have seen his skills all week at training… we believe his skill set and his mindset are great attributes to succeed at the highest stage.”
Redpath’s direct opponent at Twickenham will be Ollie Lawrence, the three-cap player who had previously been picked at outside centre. Lawrence steps in at No12 with Owen Farrell shifting to out-half and George Ford dropping to the bench.
“It was an interesting one,” said Townsend about the England rejig. “They have brought Ollie Lawrence in for a couple of games in autumn but the combination they have used over the last few years has been Ford and Farrell.
“It might mean a change in style with one less kicker there but I’m sure they will get Ollie on the ball a lot. With Manu Tuilagi they certainly had a power-based game plan around first phase and aiming to get quick ball through that, so we have got to make sure we don’t let that happen.”
"I have been trying to sell Scotland to him for the last couple of years"#GuinnessSixNationshttps://t.co/sSBXPnyi1O
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 20, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
As article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.
1 Go to commentsNo doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
5 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
8 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
5 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
8 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to comments