1
Townsend explains inclusion of van der Walt, Scotland's fifth different out-half in five matches
Scotland boss Gregor Townsend has hailed his squad’s growing depth after selecting the fifth fly-half of the autumn series in debutant Jaco van der Walt. The 26-year-old Edinburgh playmaker has completed his residency qualification and will make his Test debut against Ireland on Saturday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The South Africa-born star follows Finn Russell, Adam Hastings, Stuart Hogg and Duncan Weir into Scotland’s No10 role in this Autumn Nations Cup campaign and the completion of the delayed 2020 Six Nations.
Scotland will take on Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in the third-fourth play-off, with head coach Townsend admitting he never expected to have the luxury of five options at fly-half.
“It seems like we have got more depth, I think 36 players have played in this campaign and it will be three more this weekend,” said Townsend. “So that’s a number in itself to say they have all played international rugby and we have played pretty well in this period.
“We’ll have our fifth stand-off in five games this weekend if you count Stuart Hogg’s ten or twelve minutes at Llanelli at the beginning of this campaign. So I don’t think I would ever have thought that we could have had five stand-offs playing international rugby. So there’s growing depth.
6??switches after Murrayfield loss to France #AutumnNationsCup #IREvSCOhttps://t.co/ndJsBurhm3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 3, 2020
“We certainly have depth in one or two positions and that is very exciting to have as a coach, Second row, for example, the depth there is really impressive. And we are very aware that there are second rows playing very well outside of our group. So it’s growing but ultimately you want the top 15, 23 and probably 30 to be at a very high level. You want those two players challenging for each position to be up there with the best in the world, and we’re moving towards that. But certainly we can be better in that regard.”
Blair Kinghorn misses out due to a broken finger, while George Horne has not quite shaken off a foot issue. Hamish Watson was fit for selection but Townsend opted to shake up his back-row resources. Full-back Hogg will provide fly-half cover for van der Walt, with the Exeter star set to win his 80th cap. Van der Walt is the latest residency qualifier to make his way into Scotland’s ranks, with Townsend happy to capitalise on greater selection numbers.
ADVERTISEMENT
While Edinburgh’s combative playmaker could face a big challenge in acclimatising to Test rugby in Dublin, Townsend believes van der Walt boasts the physicality and skill set to thrive with Scotland. “Just getting used to international rugby will be a great experience for him, and getting used to playing with new teammates inside and outside him,” said Townsend. “And just doing what he has been doing really well for Edinburgh.
“This year and last year, he has taken his game to another level. Defensively he must be one of the best tackling stand-offs in world rugby. His passing and his kicking are at a high level. And he will just be looking at ways to best influence a defence and that will be just a little bit quicker at international level. But we have got real belief and faith in his ability and those around him to bring the best out of our backline and our team attack this weekend.”
SCOTLAND (vs Ireland): S Hogg (Exeter, captain); D Graham (Edinburgh), C Harris (Gloucester), D Taylor (Saracens), D van der Merwe; J van der Walt (both Edinburgh), A Price (Glasgow); R Sutherland (Edinburgh), F Brown, Z Fagerson, S Cummings (all Glasgow), J Gray (Exeter), B Thompson (Scarlets), J Ritchie (Edinburgh), M Fagerson (Glasgow). Reps: S McInally (Edinburgh), O Kebble (Glasgow), WP Nel (Edinburgh), S Skinner (Exeter), B Cowan (London Irish), S Hidalgo-Clyne (Exeter), H Jones (Glasgow), S Maitland (Saracens).
Episode 9 – Game Changers
We discuss the tense Wales vs England match from the weekend. Jamie reveals just how ruthless Shaun Edwards is! We speak to Mike Umaga on his son Jacob Umaga, and @OceansApartFilm !
iTunes – https://t.co/gfWdk5Vi8h
Spotify – https://t.co/JgbHP6KDdl pic.twitter.com/LF3nsAzp3c— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
7 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to comments