Jonny Gray: A defeat like that, it's something you don't forget
Jonny Gray is keen to exact revenge over Wales after Six Nations loss
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Jonny Gray admits the defeat Scotland suffered at the hands of Wales in their Six Nations opener back in February still haunts him over eight months on - and he is determined to put things right in Cardiff next weekend.
The Scots headed into the showpiece tournament feeling confident, but after 80 minutes on the pitch at a rocking Principality Stadium on February 3rd, they left the Welsh capital with their tails between their legs after a 34-7 loss.
Gregor Townsend’s men, of course, bounced back with victories over France, England and Italy to finish third in the table, but that Welsh defeat has been stuck firmly in the back of the minds of all the players who were involved that day.
And, with Scotland heading back there on November 3 for their first of four Autumn Tests, Gray and co are focused on winning the Doddie Weir Cup and putting that 27-point defeat from earlier in the year to bed.
“A defeat like that, it’s something you don’t forget,” the 24-year-old Glasgow Warriors second-row said this week at the Scotland training camp in St Andrews.
“It wasn’t good. It was just the way they played. They were strong up front, their strike runners caused us problems and the way they attacked from anywhere.
“It was disappointing that day, but we’ve improved a lot since then.
“It’s what’s great about Glasgow and here with Scotland, the culture is all about improving every day.
“This new phase with the national team started on Monday night in the camp when we all went over a few things [ahead of the Autumn Tests].
“Danny Wilson [the new Scotland forwards coach] has been in a few times at Glasgow [in recent weeks], speaking about different ideas. He’s very open to what we’ve been doing with Scotland already and he’s a good guy to work with, easy to get on with.
“I like different ideas that make you think about things. We’ve only worked with Danny for a couple of days [as a Scotland squad], but I’ve been picking up things already that will improve me.
“He’s been sitting a lot with different guys speaking about calling the lineout, scrum, set piece, the different things we do in the contact area and stuff like that as well as throwing in a few of his own ideas.
“It’s also quite exciting to get to work with people you don’t train with every week like [fellow second-row Sam Skinner].
“And [back-row] Blade Thomson, he is just a really good guy, really approachable.
“It’s good to chat with them and hear what they do, it’s a good atmosphere in the squad. It’s really competitive on the training pitch, but afterwards we sit down, look at things and say ‘that’s what works for me, and this is the way I do this’, so it’s great for learning and helping to take the team forward.”
Gray, who over the last 18 months has been one of the most consistent tacklers in the world game, will edge closer to 50 caps this November in the outings against the Welsh, Fiji, South Africa and Argentina.
Sadly, his older brother, Richie, will not be involved. The Toulouse man injured his back and hip recently and it is the latest in a long line of setbacks for the 29-year-old British & Irish Lions 2013 tourist.
“I am gutted for him,” said Gray junior who currently has 43 caps to his name.
“First of all, I miss the chance to see him, it’s been a while. He came back and now to get this injury, obviously, I wish him all the luck with his recovery.
“Richie’s one of the most determined guys I know. Having grown up with him, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t even be playing pro rugby probably.
“It’s a tough one for him to take, but I’m sure he’ll battle back and hopefully this is the last of a bad run he’s had.
“He’ll do his recovery and everything he has to go through. He’s very determined and he’ll be very focused. When you speak to Rich he won’t give much a way but he’s a very determined guy that is certainly for sure.”
