Townsend throws down gauntlet to newcomers
Gregor Townsend has included uncapped hookers Jake Kerr, Dave Cherry and Grant Stewart in his Scotland squad
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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has challenged the three uncapped hookers named in his Guinness Six Nations squad to show him why they deserve to be the one who earns a place in the matchday 23 for their opener against Italy on February 2.
Barring injury, Edinburgh Rugby’s Stuart McInally will start the match against Conor O’Shea’s men at BT Murrayfield, but with Fraser Brown and George Turner both injured and Ross Ford not recalled, the number 16 jersey is set to be worn by a newcomer.
The three new faces named by Townsend yesterday in a 39-man squad - which will meet up for the first time on Sunday - are Glasgow Warriors’ Grant Stewart, 23, Leicester Tigers’ Jake Kerr, 22, and 28-year-old Edinburgh man David Cherry.
Warriors’ duo Brown and Turner may yet make it back for the second part of the showpiece tournament, but for now, a new boy will be given a chance against Italy and then Ireland the following week.
“It's an opportunity for them,” Townsend told TRU.
“We are involving players that are playing well for their clubs and it will be exciting to work with them and see which one makes that squad for Italy.
“Grant came on tour [last summer] and did come into the squad during November but he has not been involved in a matchday squad as yet.
“So, all three are coming in having had no experience. Grant and David maybe have an advantage because they play alongside players that are playing international rugby for Scotland at their clubs.
“So, whether that's the second-row they are throwing to on a daily basis or the props they are working with at scrum time it is helpful while the way Glasgow and Edinburgh play has a lot of similarities to what we'll be doing.
“With Jake, the pleasing thing is that he's earned the right to start with a big club with strong competition for the jersey.
“He works very hard, he's a fast learner. We've been impressed with what we've seen on the field, but also the feedback we've had from players and coaches at Leicester.
“We’ll get to know much more about all three once we get to work with them in the coming weeks.
“They’re all likely to be playing this weekend. Grant’s started the last few games, so’s Jake while Dave’s been off the bench for Edinburgh.
“They are three athletes. Grant is one of the quickest forwards at Glasgow, Dave is one of the quickest forwards at Edinburgh while Jake Kerr’s dad was a winger and his brother is a really good athlete, so he has a fantastic engine. That’s a big positive.
“If they’re all fit and available on Monday to train, we do have an idea [of who is first in line to be replacement hooker], but a lot will depend on the first week’s training if they’re forming good relationships at scrum time with the props. Similarly, with the second-rows at lineout time, what they are doing in open play and if they are understanding the way we want to play.”
There are four other uncapped players in the squad with Warriors’ duo D’Arcy Rae and Sam Johnson joined by Newcastle Falcons’ Gary Graham and Edinburgh’s Chris Dean.
The first three have all been involved in extended training squads before, but it is a first call-up for 24-year-old centre Dean.
“He [Dean] really impressed us last year when he made the move from 13 to 12, it suited his strengths,” Townsend said.
“He has been getting more touches of the ball there, getting over the gain line and making carries.
“He’s improved his defence a lot in the past 12 months and that might be down to that change of position and the work he is doing with the Edinburgh coaches. He’s also shown that he can be an excellent passer.
“In all of the big games he has played for Edinburgh of late, he has performed really well up against direct rivals in the 1872 Cup games and then going to Toulon and having a very good game like most of the Edinburgh XV did, so he’s earned his place in our squad.
“I look forward to seeing how he gets along with a lot of players who are coming from Glasgow in our backline. We see him being able to take that next step up to Test rugby.”
Scotland squad for the 2019 Guinness Six Nations:
Forwards: Alex Allan, Adam Ashe, Simon Berghan, Jamie Bhatti, David Cherry, Allan Dell, Grant Gilchrist, Gary Graham, Jonny Gray, John Hardie, Jake Kerr, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel, D’Arcy Rae, Jamie Ritchie, Sam Skinner, Grant Stewart, Josh Strauss, Tim Swinson, Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson.
Backs: Chris Dean, Darcy Graham, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, Chris Harris, Adam Hastings, Stuart Hogg, George Horne, Pete Horne, Huw Jones, Lee Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Greig Laidlaw (C), Sean Maitland, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour.
