Scotland’s Townsend Calls Newcastle Links ‘disruptive’ Before Six Nations

Gregor Townsend has claimed reports he is to return complete astatine Newcastle aft nan 2027 World Cup is an effort to “disrupt” Scotland earlier nan Six Nations.

The 52-year-old past twelvemonth took connected a consultancy domiciled pinch Red Bull, who ain Newcastle and it was reported connected Thursday that Townsend will return complaint of nan Prem nine erstwhile his statement pinch Scotland expires aft adjacent year’s World Cup successful Australia.

“Well, it’s axenic speculation,” nan caput coach said astatine a property convention successful Edinburgh connected Thursday aft naming his squad to look Italy connected Saturday. “I’ve not signed a statement beyond nan World Cup pinch anybody, truthful it’s a communicative that I deliberation is being put retired location to effort to disrupt up of this crippled aliases adjacent week’s crippled against England.

“It’s conscionable thing that comes out, things for illustration this, I deliberation up of nan England crippled successful particular. But yeah, there’s nary truth successful that I’ve signed a statement beyond nan World Cup. My attraction is connected nan Scotland squad correct now and hopefully up until nan World Cup.”

Asked if he was concerned specified stories whitethorn person a antagonistic effect connected his squad, Townsend said: “No, not astatine all.”

Townsend has made nan bold telephone to driblet what has mostly been his first-choice backmost 3 successful caller seasons for Saturday’s conflict successful Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, pinch Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe retired of nan 23 altogether and Darcy Graham connected nan bench.

Bristol’s Tom Jordan gets nan motion astatine full-back, pinch nan in-form Glasgow brace Jamie Dobie and Kyle Steyn preferred connected nan wings to Scotland’s record-try scorer Van der Merwe and Graham, who is 2nd connected that list.

“Blair, Duhan and Darcy person had immoderate terrific games for america and they’re very proud of playing for Scotland,” said Townsend. “But there’s title successful that back-three area for illustration location is successful different positions and we consciousness Jamie, Kyle and Tom merit their starts fixed really good they’ve been playing.

“I consciousness each 3 of them individually person taken games to nan opposition. But nan 3 players that weren’t selected, they’re value players. If aliases erstwhile they get backmost into nan squad aliases they get an opportunity disconnected nan bench, for illustration Darcy will connected Saturday, we cognize we’re going to person quiet players hopeless to get backmost successful nan starting team. But for now, we’re really pleased pinch that backmost three, really they’ve been playing but besides really they’ve been combining successful training.”

Bristol’s Tom Jordan will commencement astatine full-back for Scotland connected Saturday. Photograph: Jamie Johnston/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock

Townsend has different selected a acquainted lineup, pinch 9 of nan XV having started connected nan past sojourn to Rome successful March 2024, erstwhile Scotland collapsed to a dismal 31-29 defeat. The caput coach admitted memories of that lucifer will “sharpen nan minds” of his players.

“We cognize what Italy tin do erstwhile they person that crowd power down them,” he said. “They’re 2 years further connected successful their improvement excessively and they are a cohesive team. A batch of that backline person played together, they’ve sewage immoderate value forwards. They hit Australia successful November truthful it’s 1 of nan toughest teams now to play successful world rugby.”

Elsewhere, Wales person named Louis Rees-Zammit astatine full-back to return connected England arsenic they effort to apprehension a tally that has seen them neglect to triumph a Six Nations lucifer since 2023. Rees-Zammit has not played successful nan tourney for 3 years, announcing his determination to time off rugby national for an 18-month spell successful nan NFL connected nan eve of nan 2024 competition.

The 25-year-old Bristol subordinate made his Wales comeback successful nan autumn, but this will beryllium only nan 4th clip successful 36 Tests that he will person started astatine full-back.

“I emotion it. It allows maine to get much touches connected nan shot successful unfastened field, it suits my game,” Rees-Zammit said astir playing full-back successful a pre-tournament question and reply pinch nan BBC. “I overmuch for illustration it. I’ve played 15 successful nan past for Wales, but I deliberation now I’m benignant of seen arsenic a 15 that tin play connected nan wing.”

Saturday’s crippled will beryllium nan first clip Rees-Zammit has played astatine nan Allianz Stadium for Wales. On insubstantial it looks a mismatch, pinch Wales having mislaid 21 of their past 23 Tests and England winning 11 successful a row. Wales person vanished bottommost of nan Championship for nan past 2 years.Steve Tandy, nan Wales caput coach, said: “Wales v England is ever a typical crippled pinch each nan history down nan fixture. We cognize they’re playing immoderate outstanding rugby and they’re successful awesome form. But I cognize really overmuch it intends to our players playing for nan federation and representing Wales. The measurement nan squad trained this week has been great. I want to spot america get retired and really onslaught nan crippled connected Saturday and springiness nan champion relationship of ourselves.”