Five alive: Quintet given chance could be key for Scotland at Twickenham
Huw Jones is back for Scotland and will partner Sione Tuipulotu in the midfield
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The time is nearly here: England versus Scotland is one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in world rugby and when it is the opening game for both sides in the Guinness Six Nations, that is even more so the case.
On Saturday, Twickenham will be packed out and Scotland will be looking to spoil Steve Borthwick’s first match in charge and build on a draw there in 2019 as well as their victorious outing at England HQ two years ago.
The latter was the first Scottish triumph at the ground since 1983 and while 2021 was special for supporters north of the border, there were no fans in the stadium because of the pandemic.
This time around, thousands of Scots will be making the trip down south and success on Saturday would be even sweeter.
Let’s take a look at five men who’ll be in the visiting dressing room and for whom it’ll be a big occasion…
WP Nel
Earlier in the week, Scotland assistant coach John Dalziel threw the media a curveball and suggested that Scotland’s regular tighthead prop Zander Fagerson was “in the shape of his life” and that he was “fit, available and I would suggest pushing for selection this weekend”.
In the end, he did not make it, head coach Gregor Townsend - along with the medics - deciding not to pitch him into this ‘derby’ after a long period out with a hamstring injury.
It means 36-year-old WP Nel will start at tighthead in what will be his 51st cap.
“WP is into his mid-30s and still playing well which is a bonus for us,” Townsend said. "He won his 50th cap in November which was an emotional time for him.
“To see him play so well for 80 minutes against Saracens [for Edinburgh Rugby recently] shows that he’s physically in the best shape he has been in for years, and this is an opportunity for him.
“With Zander starting most of our games over the last two or three years, WP hasn’t had the number three jersey on, so it is a great opportunity for him to show what he can do and take the game to England.”
Luke Crosbie
Hamish Watson is Scotland’s ‘go-to’ man in the number seven jersey, but he has been out since the Autumn dealing with a concussion.
He returned and played 80 minutes for Edinburgh last Saturday, but, like Fagerson, this is a week too early for him in terms of Test rugby.
Townsend could have re-jigged the back-row and brought Glasgow Warriors’ Jack Dempsey in, but he has decided to give in-form Edinburgh man Luke Crosbie a start at number seven.
It will be just his third cap and Townsend said of the 25-year-old: “We expect - and hope - that he’ll do what he’s been doing at Edinburgh. He plays one way, going forward, and in attack he goes really hard at the opposition and in defence he makes big hits.
“He has developed really well in decision-making and technical ability around the breakdown. We saw that when Edinburgh took on Saracens a few weeks ago. His effort in contact, his toughness are really good attributes in this fixture.”
Ben White
Ever since Townsend took over the Scotland team a few years ago, Ali Price has been almost ever-present in the 23.
Not this week though, as the number nine shirt goes to London Irish man Ben White.
White, 24, has been going well in the Gallagher Premiership this term and scored a try off the bench in this fixture last year at BT Murrayfield on his Scotland debut.
“Ben’s been really consistent ever since he came into the squad,” Townsend said. "He’s had more game time for London Irish this year, he has started the majority of games for them and his kicking game has been outstanding.
“He’s very competitive, he showed that in his start in the second Test in Argentina last summer and he’s just grown in confidence. He’s someone in form and someone who can play the way we want to play which is to be smart with our kicking decisions and playing at real pace.”
Huw Jones
Like the aforementioned Price, Chris Harris has been a ‘stick-on’ pick for Townsend at 13 in recent times.
This weekend he will be on the bench, however, with Glasgow man Huw Jones, who made such an impact when he first arrived on the international scene a few years back, in at outside centre.
It will be Jones’ 32nd cap, but the last couple of years have not been easy for him, so Scotland supporters are excited to see how he goes alongside Glasgow teammate Sione Tuipulotu in the midfield.
“It’s really been his form over the last three or four games [that’s earned Jones a start],” Townsend explained.
“He’s in great physical shape, confident around how he’s playing. He’s running really well in attack, but most importantly his defensive contributions have been excellent.
“There’s an element of cohesion with Sione and him combining so well with Huw at Glasgow. We know we have an outstanding player and all-round defender in Chris Harris on the bench, but we want to back Huw in this game.”
Kyle Steyn
The Scotland back three of Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Stuart Hogg was excellent in 2022 with the two wingers bagging quite a few tries.
Graham is out injured until, it’s believed, March, so Glasgow skipper Kyle Steyn will wear 14 and win his sixth cap there.
With Saracens’ Sean Maitland and Bath’s former England flyer Ruaridh McConnochie available, Townsend says it was a tough call but has backed him to do well.
“Yeah, it was [a tricky selection], but it was made easier by Kyle’s form,” the head coach said. "Sean Maitland is back in the squad and he played really well in this fixture two years ago, he’s been playing really well for Saracens.
“Ruaridh McConnochie is playing for Bath and has played Test rugby, but I feel Kyle’s brought a real edge to his game, running hard, breaking tackles, being aggressive in defence and being in really top physical shape so we’re delighted to be able to start him this time.”
