Tom Jordan’s cameo in Scotland's Six Nations win over Italy has presented Gregor Townsend a headache ahead of the visit of Ireland next Sunday, though the Scotland boss suggested he will keep changes to a minimum.
After replacing Glasgow Warriors team-mate Stafford McDowall with 25 minutes to go, Jordan was bright in attack and produced a try-saving tackle.
The versatile Jordan was on the bench to cover fly-half and centre, while he was deployed at fullback in the Autumn Nations Series.
"He was one of the options to play 12 in this game, but Stafford did really well, was solid and probably didn't get the chances that guys outside him got in terms of the ball into space.
"I think he was walking in for a try off a penalty move, so that would have been a great start for him, but Rory [Darge] ended up scoring on the next phase.”
But Townsend indicated he may also consider keeping the same starting line-up as Scotland aim to end a 10-match winless run against Ireland that stretches back to the 2017 Six Nations.
He added: "There are also the benefits of the team playing again, having had that experience together, having trained for now two weeks together, so I wouldn't have thought the selection would make too many changes, but we'll see.”
McDowall, who captained Scotland to victory over Portugal in the autumn, was one of Scotland’s top performers against Ireland in Dublin last year, despite defeat.
Townsend said his performance that day would be part of the consideration when he selects his team for next Sunday’s game.
"He played really well that day,” Townsend reflected in the immediate aftermath of the 31-19 win over Italy.
“He was very strong defensively and that was an excellent defensive performance out in Dublin.
"But he got more ball that day than he did in this match, made a good line-break, was a good second receiver, a good foil for Finn.
"But he's been doing that since then. So yes, he was selected for a reason against Italy and he'll be a strong contender for next week.”
Barring injury, there is little doubt who will line up in the number 13 jersey for Scotland next Sunday. Huw Jones is a man in outstanding form after his hat-trick against Italy and will get the chance to face Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose in a British and Irish Lions audition.
Townsend, himself part of the victorious 1997 Lions tour as a player, and an assistant coach to Warren Gatland for the tour to South Africa four years ago, believes Jones would be an asset on this summer’s tour to Australia.
“He's played really well now for a couple of years at the highest level in big games. I thought the game against South Africa back in the autumn, he was outstanding, breaking tackles against what's regarded as the best defensive team in the world.
“He's a world-class finisher and a very good passer too. He's got the all-round game that he showed today and he can show again and again for us.
“It's great to have Huw in this sweet-spot of confidence, experience and physical attributes which he's at the top of his game right now.”
Jones burst onto the Test arena with two tries on his first Murrayfield start against Australia in the autumn of 2017, followed by another brace in the 2018 Six Nations win over England, but there were persistent questions about his defensive game back then.
Townsend outlined where Jones has improved.
"He’s a more complete player now,” the Scotland head coach added.
“That comes from more of his defensive displays. He's very, very good in defence and that's a tough position to defend in at 13.
“His work in contact, his work-rate off the ball, you probably don't see it. We often don't see it on first viewing, but the amount of times him, Stafford and others are tracking to get on ball.
“They often don't get ball, but [against Italy] it brought us rewards. Off the ball work and that support play got him the tries.”
Another player set for a British and Irish Lions audition next weekend is Zander Fagerson, who got through 68 minutes against Italy before making way for Will Hurd.
In that time, the prop made 16 carries – joint-highest alongside fullback Blair Kinghorn, while he was also prominent in defence.
“He went through a power of work,” Townsend enthused about the 29-year-old.
He added: "Knowing that we've got an eight-day turnaround, Zander will get an opportunity to recover more that extra day this week.”
Share