Townsend: Important to strike right balance
2TBYYTM
Gregor Townsend believes Ben White and Blair Kinghorn will become better players after experiencing French rugby but doesn't want more of his stars moving abroad.
Scrum-half White lost his place to Ali Price for the Scots' final World Cup pool match against Ireland but remains a key figure in the head coach's plans as he competes with Price and George Horne for a place in their Six Nations opener against Wales on February 3.
The 25-year-old arrived in Toulon, who signed him following the collapse of London Irish, after the World Cup and featured in 12 straight games – starting the last six – until Friday's match in Glasgow.
“It is very challenging for a scrum-half to go and play in France because a lot of the play goes through the nine,” said Townsend, who played for three French clubs in his career. “The nine is seen as more of the general than the 10, and doing that in a different language,
lead Ireland on a numgetting used to a different way of playing, will make Ben a better player and it already has. He had a good game when Toulouse played Toulon. He was up against Antoine Dupont and played really well.”
Full-back Kinghorn made a surprise move from Edinburgh to Toulouse last month and has enjoyed a dream start, scoring two tries on debut against Cardiff and helping the five-time European champions to further wins over Quins and Ulster.
“It's a great move for Blair going to one of the top teams in the world,” said Townsend. “They appreciate players like him who can play in different positions. Sometimes Dupont plays 9 and 10. Thomas Ramos plays 15 and 10.
“Blair will thrive in the way they play which is very instinctive and will bring his own way of playing too which has impressed Toulouse. The challenge of playing in a different environment and learning about French passing and running lines should make him a better player.” gast
Townsend, who this week called up Exeter's former England prop Alec Hepburn, would prefer to have the majority of his players based in Scotland. Sale's former England U20 winger Arron Reed, 24, is also in the squad. Hamish Watson and Chris Harris have been dropped.
“There is a balance between the individual experience and the cohesion you get from players playing regularly together and being managed so they are fresh throughout the season,” he added. “That has been essential to Ireland's success and an element of Test rugby you can't deny.”
SCOTLAND SQUAD
Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Andy Christie, Luke Crosbie, Scott Cummings, Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Alec Hepburn, Will Hurd, Johnny Matthews, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Sam Skinner, George Turner, Glen Young
Backs: Adam Hastings, Ben Healy, George Horne, Darcy Graham, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Harry Paterson, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Arron Reed, Kyle Rowe, Finn Russell, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White
