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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH SCOTT CUMMINGS | DARCY GRAHAM | MIKE BLAIR
The
ISSUE #1
SCOTTISH RUGBY’S NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINE
AsOne
LET THE
GAMES
BEGIN
TEAS
EDIT ER
ION
BRYAN EASSON | CHRIS PATERSON | ALLY HOGG
PLUS GREGOR TOWNSEND’S
THE FRONT ROW
ALL-TIME XV
AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 1
The list of contents in the full Issue #1 of “The Front Row” are listed below.
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CONTENTS
Cummings of Age 5
Second-row Scott Cummings is part of a youthful stable of
players in the Scotland ranks
Gregor Townsend’s All-time XV 16
Scotland’s Head Coach names a Fantasy XV comprising
those he faced in his international career
Darcy Raring To Go 25
Edinburgh winger Darcy Graham fit and firing ahead of
Autumn Internationals
Bryan Easson 29
The Scotland Women Head Coach on a busy time for the
national team
Ally Hogg 33
The Former Scotland back-row is excited about the
current generation
Victory in 2002 39
A look back at Scotland’s last win in Wales with
Chris Paterson
Nine of the Times 47
Ex-skipper Mike Blair talks about some of the best
scrum-halves he came up against
SCOTTISH RUGBY
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2 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 3
DARCY
RARING TO GO
Now 11 Test matches into his international career, Darcy Graham
is champing at the bit to add to a cap tally that has already reaped
five tries for Scotland and taken in a Rugby World Cup as well as that
pulsating draw against the Auld Enemy at Twickenham in 2019.
The Edinburgh Rugby flyer, 23, missed “It’s been pretty strange but I haven’t
the opening four rounds of Scotland’s actually missed that much rugby due to
2020 Guinness Six Nations campaign after what’s happened,” he explained. “I missed
suffering a knee injury in the lead up to that four international games but not much
championship, but is fully recovered and more than that because of lockdown. I just
ready to make up for lost time during this spent the few months we had getting my
Autumn’s return of international rugby. body ready to go for when we were allowed
to get back to full training.
“
The global pandemic has meant that the
Hawick-born winger can still hope to feature
in the final round of Six Nations fixtures in
Scotland’s game in Wales, against whom
he made his bow in 2018. A friendly with
Georgia and four Autumn Nations Cup It was nice to have some time off to rest
fixtures mean that over the course of seven
weeks, no fewer than six Tests will be played, myself but things have come thick and
giving ample opportunity for Graham and fast since things started up again
the rest of the squad to impress.
with Edinburgh.
“I would say I’ve been pretty sharp and it
hasn’t taken loads of time to get up to speed
again – I would say that compared to a year
ago, I’m in better shape because we’ve
already had to play a few games [Edinburgh
returned to PRO14 duty on 22 August].”
With a number of competitive club games
under players’ belts since that August
resumption, the prospect of returning to
the international stage is one that naturally
excites, although the absence of a full
Graham bagged a brace of tries
house of spectators is an aspect Graham is
AVAILABLE NOW AT SHOP.SCOTTISHRUGBY.ORG in the remarkable 38-38 draw at
Twickenham in 2019 desperate to see the back of.
OR AT THE OFFICIAL SCOTTISH RUGBY STORE, BT MURRAYFIELD STADIUM 0131 346 5044
OR AT THE OFFICIAL SCOTTISH RUGBY STORE, 44 QUEEN STREET GLASGOW - G1 3DX
4 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 5
He added: “It’s weird playing without any
fans; I find it horrible. I’m more than ready
to get back to normal sooner rather than
later and get supporters back because they
make such a difference and we’re missing
“
them big time.
Although it’s not the
same, you know that
people are watching
at home and cheering In action against France during a
you on. 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up at
BT Murrayfield
“I tend to keep off social media as best I since,” he said. “The time has flown by. It
can because everyone has an opinion on was a highlight for me, playing at my first
there, so I don’t dive too much into that, but World Cup in pretty exotic surroundings,
knowing how much the fans support us is with a different culture. The conditions
obviously something I’m very much aware were obviously very different to what
of and appreciate.” we’re used to with the humidity, so it was
Hailing from the rugby hot bed of Hawick, tough. The Russia game I remember being
Graham is acutely aware of how much extremely hot – not quite what we’re used
positivity is brought to people’s lives by to in Scotland at this time of year!”
playing and watching the game, having The weather may not be quite as tropical
starred for his hometown club before in the coming months compared to what
breaking through into the professional the squad experienced in 2019, but with a
game. He added: “Sport is huge in general, fit and firing Darcy Graham back to bolster
no matter which one it is. Not being able to the ranks, Scotland will be hoping to bring
go and watch a game of rugby, no matter some rays of sunshine back to supporters
if that’s international games or down your after a year like no other.
local club, is so difficult so the sooner we
can have that back the better it’ll be for
everyone.”
It’s hard to believe that a year has passed
since Scotland were featuring on the biggest
rugby stage of all at the Rugby World Cup,
in front of tens of thousands of spectators
and millions of viewers on television - an
experience that Scotland’s diminutive wing
already ranks as a career highlight.
“It’s crazy that that’s a year since we went
to Japan and everything that’s happened
Notching against Georgia in 2019
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6 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 7
ALLY
HOGG
When Scotland travel to face
Wales for their final 2020
Guinness Six Nations match on
31 October, it will be the first
time the fixture has been played
outside Cardiff or Edinburgh
since 1998, when the sides met
at Wembley Stadium on account
of the Millennium Stadium
being built.
Since Wales moved into their stunning
Taylor, Jason White, Kelly Brown and Ally
74,500 capacity home at the turn of the
Strokosch, he thinks the current cohort
century, Scotland have only tasted victory
have lots to offer, with Head Coach Gregor
on one occasion but for those that have
Townsend enjoying the relative luxury of
sampled the spectacular arena, the drama
having plenty of options in that area of
of the occasion lives long in the memory.
the pitch.
“
“It was phenomenal, more than 70,000
people at the Millennium Stadium with my
mum, dad and Papa, and my now wife in
attendance,” Ally Hogg recalled. “It was just
unreal and the stuff dreams are made of. If
my debut wasn’t to be at Murrayfield, then Scotland have always been fortunate to
that’s the next best stadium to do it in. have a good back-row selection through
“I think not having a crowd to lift the Welsh the ages, not just in my time and it’s the
team might serve as a positive for Scotland
at Parc Y Scarlets in the upcoming match, same now.
but on the flip side it’s a real shame for the
sport, because that’s one of rugby’s great “Scotland have always been fortunate to
theatres to play and be involved in.” have a good back-row selection through the
ages, not just in my time and it’s the same
Hogg won 48 caps in the Scottish back-row
now,” added the former Edinburgh star.
after that 2004 debut in Cardiff, notching
“It’s always been very competitive and at
no fewer than ten Test tries in the process.
the moment, you’ve got Jamie Ritchie and
Featuring in lauded Calcutta Cup-winning
Hamish Watson, obviously Magnus
squads alongside the likes of Simon
VitalityHealth and VitalityLife are trading names of Vitality Corporate Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 9
If you’ve played The National There won’t be the same cacophonous
atmospheres during the end-of-year fixture
Lottery, you’ve supported list in 2020, but Hogg thinks the very nature
rugby across Scotland. of pulling on the jersey serves as inspiration
THANK YOU
enough, saying: “Although I didn’t get on
in the end, I was on the bench for what
would have been my first cap against USA
in San Francisco in 2002 [Scotland won 65-
23]. There were maybe 1,500 people in the
stadium, but the fact guys were playing for
their country is the thing that matters.
Every week, National Lottery players raise an amazing
£30 million for good causes, including rugby. Hogg scored a hat-tick of tries in the “You create your own atmosphere, look to
2007 Rugby World Cup against Romania
your senior players to create that intensity
By buying a National Lottery ticket, you have supported [Bradbury] has done well, but there are and buzz around the team and on the pitch,
rugby across the country, creating opportunities for lots of options there and that’s what drives so it’ll be up to the leaders of the team to get
everyone to get involved in the sport. players to perform at their best. everyone up for the game beforehand and
during. Sometimes in a game, crowds can
www.sportscotland.org.uk “I haven’t seen an awful lot of Nick [Haining]
but I’ve spoken to some of the coaches at
give you a lift if there’s a bit of a lull, so that’s
something that’ll be needed this autumn.”
Edinburgh and they’re impressed by him;
he’s a bit of a specimen isn’t he?” Like all keen rugby followers the world over,
Hogg thinks that by sport just returning,
As Scotland prepare to face Wales for their
people will be given a boost at a time where
final 2020 Guinness Six Nations fixture
we are being asked to live our lives in an
as part of a busy autumn schedule, Hogg
unfamiliar way, adding: “There are various
reckons the squad will be aiming to kick
restrictions across the country, so having
on after some encouraging signs earlier in
sport gives people something to look
the year. He explained: “There was a bit of
forward to. You could see the lift that came
pressure, so beating Italy and France would
from the national team playing football
have given the team confidence ahead
recently and it’ll be the same for rugby even
of the Wales game. In theory, Scotland
if things do look a little different this year.”
have an outside chance of winning the
championship, so it was a shame to see
things cut short. The team were starting
to play better and both Pro teams were
doing well.
“
Of course, a bit of time
has passed since then
so I don’t think you can
read too much into
what happened back in
February and March. In action against South Africa
10 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 11
THE MITSUBISHI SUV RANGE
THE ULTIMATE FRONT 3 SCOTLAND
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For most people, lockdown was a chance to binge endless series on
Netflix and practise baking skills. But for Interim Scotland Women
Coach, Bryan Easson, it was the perfect opportunity to network and
engage with other coaches and sports ahead of a busy end to the
calendar year.
I made some really good contacts. That’s
the great thing about rugby. You make a
lot of friends and a lot of contacts over the
years of playing and coaching.”
The squad have hit the ground running in
their recent camps, and Easson is quick to
pay tribute to the hard work and efforts of
his players and backroom staff who have
exceeded expectations with their individual
“
preparation over the lockdown period.
“I watched so much rugby over the lockdown Our camps have gone really well so far. The
period it’s frightening” he laughed. “It’s
important that we stay ahead of the curve
players have exceeded expectations considering
and when you’re watching games you’re they haven’t played since the 10th of February.
looking at how you can change the game.
Mitsubishi Motors - Proud Partner of Scottish Rugby I don’t want to think about us playing the “We were in camp ahead of the France game
game a certain way because everyone else in March but obviously that was called off
The Mitsubishi range is ready to play on any surface, in any conditions. Driven by powerful plays that way. the night before we were due to play so that
4WD systems the Eclipse Cross, Outlander PHEV and Shogun Sport are equally at home on was the last time we saw each other before
the road, or on a field a little closer to home. “I did a lot of personal development as well. I
lockdown.”
had numerous Zoom calls with people from
Fuel economy and CO₂ results for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross / MPG (l/100km) (combined): 32.5 (8.7) to 37.7 (7.5) / CO₂ emissions: 196 - 170 g/km.
all different walks of life. I was speaking to “A lot of work was done behind the scenes
Fuel economy and CO₂ results for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV / MPG (l/100km) (weighted combined): 139.7 (2.0) / Electric energy consumption (weighted coaches in the men’s and women’s game, pre-lockdown and Allan MacDonald
combined): 3.68 miles/kWh / CO₂ emissions (weighted): 46 g/km / Equivalent all-electric range: 28 miles. [strength and conditioning coach] created
coaches from Australia, New Zealand,
Fuel economy figures for the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport / MPG (l/100km): Urban 27.2 (10.4), extra-urban 37.2 (7.6), combined 32.8 (8.6) / * CO₂ emissions: 227 g/km.
France, Ireland and also people in business. training programmes for the players. Since
Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO₂ figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect
real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. Outlander
PHEV figures were obtained using a combination of battery power and fuel. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a plug-in hybrid vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. *There is
12
a new test for fuel consumption and CO₂ figures. The figures shown however were achieved using the outgoing test procedure.
LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 13
August, the home-based players came back against France and we will also face some
to training in their regions and then we’ve Celtic flair against Wales away. The fact that
had two weekend camps with everyone we have the mix of those teams has been a
back together.” real positive for us ahead of the World Cup
“
qualifiers in December.
Scotland get underway at the end of
October as they take on France at Scotstoun, We’ve done a lot of work on those teams
before facing Wales the following week.
Their final Six Nations game sees the side
anyway as we were due to play them earlier in
travel to Parma at the start of December the year but we’ve done more now and maybe
to play against Italy – a match which will changed a couple of things.
double up as a repechage tie as part of the
“We’ve been really lucky to have these two
qualification process for next year’s Rugby
games, but also a good enough break to be
World Cup.
able to rest for the World Cup qualifiers.
“We will be going up against two very Obviously having the World Cup qualifiers
different opponents in the next few weeks. at the end of this block is the main focus
We will have a tough physical home game for us.”
Rachel Malcolm
ONES TO WATCH
Specialists in Ahead of some pivotal international fixtures this autumn, we take a
Constructive Solutions look at some of the Scotland Women squad who will be aiming to
contribute to a memorable few months.
Hannah Smith
Rachel Malcolm the pitch. With 43 caps to her name, the
Fosroc, a leading international manufacturer and supplier Scotland skipper Malcolm has provided an experienced no.8 will be looking to test
of high performance chemicals for the construction excellent depth of leadership on and off the resolve of the opposition’s defence.
the pitch since being appointed captain
industry, are proud to be supporting grass roots rugby Lana Skeldon
in 2019. The flanker will be looking to
in Scotland. continue her dominant performances in
The hooker has always been formidable
force in the front-row and has notched up Jade Konkel
defence in the upcoming matches.
28 points so far in her career. Skeldon’s
The Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy represents the Hannah Smith work ethic and determination continues to
nation’s most promising male and female rugby The Hillhead Jordanhill centre is a stand out in her performances, as she aims
players, with a national academy structure designed to constant threat whenever she has to reach her 40th cap in the upcoming Six
give Scotland’s young rugby stars a pathway into the possession of the ball and will be aiming Nations fixtures.
to bring her attacking flair to the games.
professional game. Megan Gaffney
Smith had an impressive outing against Lana Skeldon
The winger has a wealth of international
Spain in January in which she evaded
experience having also played in
numerous defenders from deep within
the Scotland 7s set-up. Power, guile
her own territory to sprint across the pitch
and enthralling turns of pace are key
and score.
components of Gaffney’s game and she
Jade Konkel will be looking for any opportunity to
The abrasive ball carrier is always a force outwit the defence.
to be reckoned with whenever she is on Megan Gaffney
www.fosroc.com constructive solutions
THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 15
MIKE BLAIR
NINE OF
THE TIMES
Scotland’s most-capped scrum-
half, Mike Blair, represented his
country 85 times between 2002
and 2012, playing at three Rugby
World Cups and gaining selection
for the successful 2009 British &
Irish Lions tour to Australia.
A stellar career saw him captain his
country on fourteen occasions, score seven
international tries and gain a nomination
for IRB World Player of the Year in 2008.
After retiring from the game in 2016, Mike Blair in action for Scotland
he became Assistant Coach at Glasgow against New Zealand
Warriors before taking on a similar role with
Scotland, under Gregor Townsend. got asked what position we wanted to play
and because my Dad had played scrum-half
We caught up with him to discuss some of
for Edinburgh Accies I thought ‘yeah I’ll try
the heady names he faced on Scotland duty
that’ and it started from there.
and what they offered as opponents over
his decade in international rugby. “And so when Gary Armstrong was really at
the peak of his powers, that’s when I really
GARY ARMSTRONG
“
took inspiration. I actually played against
him a few times when I was breaking
through at Edinburgh and he’d come
back to the Border Reivers after playing
for Newcastle. I remember there was a
The player that really photocall at Murrayfield where they wanted
influenced me from to have the pair of us standing nose-to-
nose, just staring at one another.
that sort of era was
“It was really awkward because we weren’t
Gary Armstrong. chatting yet we couldn’t have been any
closer. But it was great fun playing against
“When I was growing up, he was my sort of him and I’m pretty sure I took a few sly digs
Stuart Hogg I guess, in terms of who I wanted in the ribs at the breakdown as a welcome
to be. I remember in primary school, sitting from him!”
at the front of the class legs crossed and we
THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 17
NOTABLE MENTIONS
“Dwayne Peel was class, very different to
say the abrasive Mike Phillips, but I rated the
pair of them highly. Peel was just a natural
while Phillips used what he was good at
physically. I was on that Lions tour in 2009
with Phillips and Harry Ellis and they both
played well enough for me to not get a look-
in for a Test cap, although I didn’t play well
Gary Armstrong and Joost van der
on that tour and only had myself to blame
Westhuizen in action for that.
The two French ones that stand out would
JOOST VAN DER WESTHUIZEN “I remember running as opposition once
“
be Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who played a
for Scotland and myself, Nathan Hines and
similar type of game to me, bringing others
Gordon Ross and the drill was called the Stop
into the game at first receiver as well, and
Matt Dawson drill, all about how to defend
Dimitri Yachvili, who I think had the best
him at the breakdown. So I had to try and
attacking short kicking game of anyone in
I came off the bench in mimic Matt as best I could – it was actually
the past 20 years.
one of the best sessions I ever had – and we
2003 before the World ended up making three line breaks against “And Chris Cusiter was someone I never
Cup that year, and I can’t seven defenders within the first few plays. enjoyed playing against. He was a real try-
hard and constantly there, in your face,
remember if he was still “He was coming towards the end of his
annoying you – in a nice way, of course,
career when I faced him and although he
on at the time but he was wasn’t quite at the 2003 levels he’d reached,
because it was Cus. We both had times
of being first choice for Scotland over the
one of the eye-catching he was still such a canny player.”
years and dovetailed well over the years.
names.
SCOTLAND’S
“The ages when I was most influenced by SCRUM-HALF STABLE
rugby, at nine to 17, the players from that
era were the ones who inspired me to play. “I think Ali in particular got a lot of
confidence from Greig not being there.
I’d watched Living with Lions in 97 and kind
Before, when he had started ahead of
of liked him because his passing wasn’t
Greig, Ali would have been looking over
particularly good and I always liked the his shoulder a bit and it’s maybe similar
fact that he was a world class scrum-half now with him and George Horne.
who couldn’t really pass, so it gave hope to
“Greig was a big leader of that squad
those in the same boat!”
and through him no longer being a part
of that, both Ali and George will have to
MATT DAWSON develop that side of their game as well
as compete for the jersey. They will have
“Street smart is a good description for Matt. learned a huge deal from Greig though
If you look at the individual components of and will no doubt use some of the things
his game, he probably wasn’t amazing at any they picked up from him.
one thing, but he used game management to “Ali’s done really well in being picked
his advantage. He was a world class player throughout the 2020 Six Nations and
without having some of those stand-out George is snapping at his heels, so that’s
Mike Blair and Ali Price
traits, if that makes sense. great from a Scotland point of view.”
18 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT THE FRONT ROW AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020 19Best in the field
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