VERN Cotter has emphasised the need for versatility, not only within his squad but among those on the back-up list too, and that need was well illustrated yesterday when Stuart McInally was forced to pull out of the Rugby World Cup with injury.
Having selected three hookers but only five back-row men, the Scotland coach needs players in the former position who can deputise in the latter. That is one of McInally’s strengths, as is also the case with the man who has replaced him, Kevin Bryce.
The two other hookers, Ross Ford and Fraser Brown, also began life in the back row. As a first pick, Ford will stick to his preferred position, but Brown and now Bryce can expect to be asked to move into the back row off the bench, especially during one of the first two pool games, which take place only four days apart.
But for Bryce’s ability to cover those two positions, Cotter would have felt the loss of McInally to be twofold. “It almost had a double impact,” the coach admitted. “But we’re lucky that Kevin has played in the loose forwards as well. He played against Canada on tour last year and came in there, so he’s able – as is Fraser Brown – to cover those positions.”
Cotter’s selection of John Hardie as the only specialist openside in his squad of 31 has attracted comment for two reasons - first of all because of the choice of Hardie, who only arrived in the country a couple of months ago, and second because of the decision just to have one No 7. Eddie Jones, the Australian coach of Scotland’s first World Cup opponents Japan, is one of those to have expressed surprise at the balance - or imbalance - of Cotter’s back-row choices, but the New Zealander suggested that Jones was unaware of the abilities of the squad.
“Eddie’s had a crack at just about everybody, hasn’t he?,” Cotter said, “Look, Eddie is probably right in theory – but he doesn’t know Fraser Brown and he doesn’t know Ryan Wilson.”
One of the five back-row choices along with Hardie, David Denton, Alasdair Strokosch and the uncapped Josh Strauss, Wilson - like the hookers - can play at openside. He may end up getting more game time at No 6, but, as the fastest forward in the squad according to Cotter, Wilson also could have an important role to play on the other side of the scrum if Scotland need to adopt a looser, more attacking style at any point.
With eight days still to go before the Japan game, Cotter has a lot of time yet to mull over his permutations in the back row and elsewhere - but it is time that is beginning to weigh heavy on his hands. In common with the players, he is itching to get back into action, and admitted he would rather not sit out the opening round of pool games this weekend.
“Since the France game” - the last of Scotland’s four warm-up matches ten days ago - “there’s been a feeling we’ve been treading water a little bit,” he said. “It would have been nice to be first up, but we’re not. I’d love to be under way straight away, but there’s no point in thinking about it.”
Whatever the frustrations of sitting on the sidelines this weekend while South Africa play Japan and Samoa take on the United States in Brighton, it is better, surely, to be kicking your heels than to wish you had more time to prepare. Cotter is convinced his team have learned a lot since the training camp began back in June - now all they have to do is learn to be patient for another eight days.
“It’s been a great two and a half months, seeing the players find out more about themselves and develop their characters and personalities, develop their rugby skills too. We’re happy – but the key thing now is staying calm, in control and focused.
“We’ve got a long week ahead of us waiting for the Japan game, with the World Cup starting before we do. It will be tough, and we’ll have to rock and roll with a few punches, but we’re ready.”
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