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Scotland fans astonished Richie Gray has been overlooked after Sam Skinner's injury
By Josh Raisey
Scotland fans are shocked that Gregor Townsend has not opted to call up Richie Gray after Exeter lock Sam Skinner was ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury sustained last weekend.
Glasgow Warriors’ Tim Swinson has been called upon instead, leaving many fans questioning what the former British and Irish Lion has to do to be noticed by Townsend.
A few eyebrows were raised when the Toulouse forward Gray was initially excluded from Scotland’s World Cup training squad, but many could understand the rationale behind such a decision. The 30-year-old has been seriously hampered by injuries over the past few years and his form subsequently dropped.
However, with the Top 14 season still ongoing when the training squad was announced, some thought Gray was being given a chance to prove his fitness. Although he did not always start ahead of Joe Tekori or Riche Arnold, Gray won the French league with Toulouse and started against Bordeaux in the first game of their new season last Saturday.
Although it is unlikely that Gray will reach the form that he showed at the beginning of the decade, the fans feel that he should be picked ahead of Swinson if he is fully fit. Although the 38-cap Swinson is a fine player, the 6ft 9in Gray has proved in the past that he is one of the best locks in the game on his day.
Scotland have claimed it was Gray’s own wish to be excluded for the World Cup, but some fans on Twitter feel there must be something going on between Gray and Townsend for the head coach to persistently overlook the 62-cap veteran.
While it was a shock that he initially did not make the training squad, the fact that he was not the next option at lock has baffled many. This is what has been said:
While some have speculated that playing in France has hampered Gray’s chances of playing for Scotland, it is clear that the die has been cast regarding the possibility of him making the World Cup.
Whether he will play for Scotland again under Townsend is to be seen, but he won’t be travelling to Japan next month unless there is another injury.
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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