AT the end of a bruising Six Nations Championship that has already seen the Scotland squad severely depleted by injury, it hardly came as a surprise yesterday when they were forced into a late change for this afternoon’s match against Italy. Richie Gray, who had been unable to train for a couple of days in last week’s run-up to the England game, has been ruled out with a hamstring strain, and Grant Gilchrist comes straight into the team to replace him.
Tim Swinson has been the back-up second row throughout the campaign, but he has had to cover the back row in some games and it is that versatility that has denied him a start this time. “We felt the way they both play, Tim would be better to stay on the bench,” Scotland assistant coach Nathan Hines said yesterday. “Grant, with what he offers around the pitch, would be better suited to start.
“It’s only one change instead of two. Tim is used to coming on in those late stages and has done a very good job for us.
“We sort of didn’t really know if Richie was going to be in or out, but we prepared for this during the week - Grant has run Richie's role and we're well prepared. It's good to see Grant being given an opportunity, and, with his quality, he can fill that spot with ease. We're confident about where he's at and what he can provide.”
Gilchrist himself has had his opportunities restricted by injuries in recent seasons, but it is fitting that he is back in the team for Vern Cotter’s final match, having been named as captain by the then new head coach for the 2014 Autumn Internationals before being ruled out with a broken arm. The other members of the coaching team except Matt Taylor are moving on, with Hines joining Cotter at Montpellier and Jason O’Halloran and Jonathan Humphreys moving to Glasgow, but Hines insisted that the imminent break-up of the group was far less important than the chance for the team to end their campaign with a win after last week’s record loss to England.
“All I’m worried about is getting a win,” he said. “It's not about my last game. I just want the boys to get a win against Italy and prove to themselves that they’re the team they were before last weekend. One bad game doesn't make them a bad team and this is an opportunity for them to show it.”
Scotland can still finish second despite that defeat by England, although even if they beat Italy with a bonus point they will have to rely on other results going their way. If Wales beat France without a bonus point and Ireland lose to England, the full five points against Italy will be enough to give Cotter’s side their best finish in the Championship since the Italians joined in 2000.
But France can ensure they finish ahead of Scotland if they beat Wales with a bonus point in today’s second match, while Ireland will also have a chance to finish up best of the rest should they deny England a second consecutive Grand Slam in the late match in Dublin. Despite Eddie Jones’s team having retained the title with that Calcutta Cup victory, there is still a lot to play for on the final day.
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