Adam Hastings and Blair Kinghorn wanted to room together “within five minutes” of the Scotland’s squad for the Autumn Test Series being released to the players.
Gregor Townsend thinks the closeness of the pair will help drive competition between them as Hastings regains the 10 shirt for Saturday’s second November test against Fiji.
Townsend has overhauled the midfield with Hastings, Cam Redpath and Chris Harris all returning. Richie Gray plays his first test since 2017 (and first under Townsend), George Turner is in at hooker for the injured Dave Cherry.
A little rivalry between best friends
Scoring from inside your own half is hard enough in football… 🤯
Take a bow, Adam Hastings! 👏👏👏pic.twitter.com/ae0BfhJbzy
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 21, 2022
It was always the plan to give the best friends and room-mates Hastings and Kinghorn a shot each at leading the team from 10 in the first two tests, said Townsend.
It’s “not quite as simple” as whoever plays best wins the shirt for New Zealand, he added, but it would count.
“It will have a bearing,” said the coach. “If Adam plays really well, he’s the one most recent in our thoughts.
“Blair did play very well (against Australia) and we know what he can bring. He’s played five games now for us. It’s an opportunity for Adam, starting this week.”
Earlier Townsend said the management team were “massive believers” in Kinghorn, but he was keen to stress Hastings’ qualities.
“Physically he’s in a really good place and that has helped his defence. He’s always been competitive but he hasn’t defended that well.”
Gloucester have also featured Hastings far more his year, he added.
“They have changed their gameplan. They go a lot through 10 now, last year Adam didn’t get as many touches.
“It’s the confidence of being the attack leader at the club in his second season.
“We think highly of Adam. He’s creative in putting others into holes and using his kicking game smartly. I’m encouraging him to run more too. It’s been a pleasing aspect to see how well he’s played this year.”
An interesting week for Kinghorn
🏴 A left foot that @andrewrobertso5 would be proud of 👟@Blair_Kinghorn 🔥#AutumnNationsSeries | #SCOvAUS pic.twitter.com/zyIuVxels1
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) October 29, 2022
“I spoke to Blair on Monday to tell him he wouldn’t be starting for this one, and I did say it will be interesting to see how the both of them get on,” added Townsend.
“On Monday they both grabbed Chris Paterson to go out and kick together. They’re going to drive each other as they get on very well with each other.
The penalty miss against Australia has not affected Kinghorn.
“He’s had to come in a lot this week to work in a couple of different positions (potentially coming off the bench).
“He had a long kicking session on Wednesday. With any missed kick, you’ve got to process it and think, “what would I have done differently?”
“When it’s an important kick like that it will probably sit with you but that’s a great learning experience for the next time he gets that opportunity.
“He kicked very well over in Argentina in a hostile environment. He backed himself to kick that penalty. Those are positives. We’ll see next time he gets that opportunity but he’s working hard to improve that in training.”
Redpath returns at last
Congratulations to @camredpath who has been selected to start for @Scotlandteam in their @autumnnations fixture against Fiji this Saturday. 👏 🏴
Congratulations Cam, go well 👊 💙 pic.twitter.com/u5XAY32eaO
— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) November 3, 2022
Cam Redpath’s opening act as a Scotland player – at Twickenham in 2021 – was such a success he seemed to be an immediate fixture. Instead, injuries mean he hasn’t started in the 18 months since then.
“I think Cam will admit when he got back playing this season he wasn’t at his best, but the last couple of games he’s got back to that level,” said Townsend.
“Form dictates it too – he needed to play his way back into the team.
“We’ve got great memories of how well he played for us down at Twickenham, but you’ve got to be knocking at the door hard to get into this team. I thought Sione (Tuipulotu) played well at the weekend too.
“But having (Redpath) and Chris (Harris) together is a really good combination which suits the strengths of each other.”
Hogg a noisy backbencher
Your 🏴 team for Saturday's @autumnnations game against Fiji has been confirmed.
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/ju4FGmty8E pic.twitter.com/T0ypBSWBWV
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 3, 2022
There was never really any question that the former captain would return for this game, said Townsend.
“He’s been the loudest at training, he sits in the front row of our meetings, and he’s contributing a lot this week,” added the coach.
“He has come in full of energy, full of contributions, and he’s trained well.
“Everytime he goes out to play you see that positive nature of how he plays. Just focusing on being the rugby player and how he can help the team without all the other things (as captain), that’s our aim.”
A future 10?
Townsend spoke of his hopes for Fin – Northampton’s Smith, not Russell.
Still only 20, Fin Smith’s grandfather Tom Elliot played for Scotland and the Lions. Like Redpath, his formative representative play has been in the English system, and he now has a decision to make.
“I have spoken to Fin a few times, prior to this summer and also over the last couple of months,” said Townsend.
“It has been great having conversations with him. He’s a young man but he is very mature and understands the game. He has very strong links to Gala so that is always a good thing isn’t it?
“He’ll maybe have to make a decision sooner than people think because he is a very good player. I am sure England will be after him as well.”