Autumn Nations Cup: Versatile Blair Kinghorn hints at positional change for Scotland v France

Four into two won’t go and as Gregor Townsend ponders his team selection for the match against France on Sunday the Scotland coach has some big calls to make on the wings.

Blair Kinghorn started on the wing for Scotland against Wales before dropping to the bench for the Italy match. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

Duhan van der Merwe produced a try-scoring performance in the Autumn Nations Cup win against Italy last weekend and generally impressed. Darcy Graham was on the other flank and a third Edinburgh wingman, Blair Kinghorn, stepped off the bench.

Sean Maitland is another option who is sure to come into Townsend’s thoughts given his two-try exploits against France in the Six Nations in March.

Kinghorn, who started Scotland’s first two autumn Tests against Georgia and Wales, thinks the variety of options can help drive up standards.

“Competition is the thing that brings out the best in any team,” he said. “If training is competitive, nobody is sure they’ve got a starting jersey, everyone’s working hard, then that brings the best out in us.

“It was great to see big Duhan thriving last week. I’ve watched him now for about three years with Edinburgh. This is just the start of his international career and he’s doing well.”

It was Van der Merwe’s second try in only his second start - he scored on his debut against Georgia - and it’s the sort of strike-rate he has been producing for Edinburgh since arriving from South Africa in 2017.

Kinghorn also touched down against the Georgians in a match in which he was deployed at full-back in the absence of Stuart Hogg. He switched to the wing for the win over Wales and is unsure of his best position.

“It’s pretty close. I’ve played over three-quarters of my international rugby on the wing and felt very at home there. I feel that I’m still developing as a winger but they’re definitely getting closer.”

Intriguingly, Kinghorn was coy when asked whether he had also been running at stand-off at training - “I can neither confirm or deny that,” he said with a smile - but it’s certainly a problem position for Townsend with Finn Russell and Adam Hastings both injured.

Duncan Weir is expected to retain the No 10 jersey at Murrayfield but back-up is required should anything untoward happen to the Worcester man.

James Lang was the designated deputy against Italy but versatility could be the name of the game as Scotland chase the victory that would likely secure their place in the Autumn Nations Cup final.

The momentum is with the home side after a run of five successive victories but Kinghorn says there is no complacency.

“Even when you win, you still look at yourself pretty harshly because we always know how much better we can be,” he said.

“It does make the mood in camp a lot better if there’s been a victory at the weekend. Players are happy and the coaches are happy.

“There’s no impending sense of doom hanging over your head when you’ve got team meetings coming up.

“Everyone is buzzing in training. Being on a win train is good. I’ve been on the end of a couple of defeats in a row and it does get pretty dark sometimes. You start questioning yourself. But confidence is high just now and we’re looking forward to trying to get another victory against France at the weekend.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.