Scotland reaction: Audition day in Hogg-less world but there's a surprise star in white

Obviously this was nothing like Love Island and that show’s parade of beefcake. But the musclebound were prominent among the guys in shorts and, while getting along together was important for the team, there was also burning individual ambition.

Scotland's Ollie Smith (centre) is challenged during The Famous Grouse Nations Series match between Scotland and Italy at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, on July 29, 2023, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)

And nor was it in any way similar to a debutante’s ball where fluttering eyelashes might be deemed acceptable but yesterday, fluttery passes most definitely weren’t. Each Scot on the field, though, would have been silently mouthing a variation on the words: “Me, me! Please choose me!”

A warm-up for the World Cup. A selection by Gregor Townsend offering chances for newbies and coming men to prove themselves to be highly useful if not irresistible. Only a few days left before the squad is chopped down to its fighting weight for France. Go!

Warm-up was the operative phrase as Murrayfield could dispense with the puffer jackets, stout tweeds and hot soup to watch rugby in the summer sunshine. (Okay, the match started in drizzle but that cleared). It was Italy, Scotland last opponents just four months previously, but a contest not without intrigue for the oval ball-obsessed and those curious to see what a post-Hoggy world looked like.

In place of the abruptly-retired Stuart Hogg at full-back was Ollie Smith. Watching him with even greater fascination, biding his time among the replacements, was Blair Kinghorn. All over the pitch there were players competing against the Italians, certainly, but also with team-mates, with the bench and with those who’ll be involved in the next tune-up this Saturday. Everybody is after one of the 33 plane tickets up for grabs.

Smith was first to show, in the right place to foil Italy’s first attack. Do international colleagues who’re also friends but rivals as well wish a dropped high ball or missed tackle on each other? Of course not.

Surely Darcy Graham has no need to audition and will be at the World Cup. The little man is Murrayfield’s darling, a player about which there is no off-field drama so he can be solely defined by his firecracker displays on the flank – and he’s loved for them. Injury denied supporters any of his brave hurtling during the Six Nations but to the delight of a healthy crowd just shy of 50,000, he opened the scoring, and his joy after the enforced absence was obvious.

A few minutes earlier, the winger had chased a long punt from Ben Healy, one of a number hoping to make the most of his first start, just failing to touch down. There was no mistake when the same two combined again.

Between those moments there was some comedy when a seagull refused to move from the pitch even as nearby the two packs scrapped and fought and a potential Sam Skinner break was ruined.

The bird continued to stand its ground. Maybe it was injured or perhaps, used to having the run of the place in the month of July, there was disgruntlement at all this human activity.

Rory Darge has been even longer on the treatment table than Graham, missing last year’s autumn tests along with the Six Nations, but here he was, proving he wasn’t just a rumour, the semi-mythical Future of Scottish Rugby that the stadium had barely glimpsed, and captaining the team as well.

Before the game Darge had insisted: “We’re not playing against each other, we’re playing against Italy.” But he went on to acknowledge how selection wouldn’t be far from many minds. “Yeah, it’s going to be pretty brutal because you look at the whole squad and you’re thinking: ‘Everyone deserves to go.’”

Smith would not want to have been judged solely on a slip which almost let Italy score. He won a foot race to collect the ball only to drop it. Otherwise he was sure enough and almost set up Graham for another try.

Healy - Irish-born, a shamrock on his breast originally but now, pleasing his Scottish mum no doubt, one of us - definitely shone. He was sharp and creative with foot and hand, a leap to palm a kick backwards to his men winning almost as big a cheer as, just before, George Turner proving himself an immovable object in a challenge, rather like a Haymarket shunter from just along the road.

In the second half Healy continued to endear himself to his new supporters and a pinpoint kick for touch had him beating his chest in satisfaction. Then, with Italy having squeezed into the lead, the fly-half restored the advantage with a penalty, his first points for Scotland.

The match, though, had slipped into a bit of a dwam. There wasn’t much of the free-flowing, flairful stuff to excite the crowd and a steady hum of chatter spread round the ground. Were they wanting the seagull back?

Then the first of the substitutions and almost a try for one of them, Stuart McInally, right away. And then five more points scored by - who else? - Graham. Another newcomer, Stafford McDowall, had been talked up well by Townsend beforehand but there were few chances to show what he could do at inside centre until he charged for the line and was blocked. Graham, nose to the turf, squirted through the sort of tiny gap that possibly only he could.

Graham may be the fans’ favourite, an inspiration to the young and wee guys everywhere, but Healy was deservedly awarded man of the match, capping a cool and assured display which must get him on the plane by converting Josh Bayliss’ try way out wide in overtime. The most eye-catching in white, apart from the seagull.