Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend hopes the return of Darcy Graham can ignite the team’s attack heading into Sunday’s clash with Australia at Murrayfield.
Graham, Scotland’s record try-scorer, is one of two changes to the team that lost 43-21 against New Zealand in the Nations Championship last weekend.
Blair Kinghorn is also restored at full-back for the game against the Wallabies, with Jamie Dobie and Kyle Rowe dropping out.
Townsend had warned that no player was ‘undroppable’ after the crushing defeat to the All Blacks where Scotland failed to score a point in the second half.
By choosing to make only two changes, he has given the majority of players a chance to make amends in what is a must-win clash against the Aussies.
Graham is now fit again after making a rapid recovery from a bicep injury which had initially been set to keep him out until the turn of the year. But with the dynamic winger ready to be unleashed, Townsend said: ‘Darcy is in a very good place and we can’t wait to see him play.
Darcy Graham has recovered from bicep and calf issues and will face Australia at Murrayfield
‘When we started in camp, he had a calf injury (after the bicep issue) so he didn’t train. He was due to go and play for Edinburgh against Benetton but stayed with us.
‘Then you’re into the New Zealand week and obviously we felt that, while he was passed fit, we didn’t really consider him.
‘But he’s looking good now and he’s ready to go. Likewise with Blair (Kinghorn), we are very excited to have the two of them back in the team.’
Earlier this week, Scotland winger Kyle Steyn spoke about the need for senior players to step up after last week’s disappointment.
Scotland have been shipping well over 30 points a game over the past year and the defence has emerged as a major concern.
Townsend admitted it is an area they need to improve but insisted that it is more about individual accountability than a failing system.
‘The issues at the weekend were more about how we gave New Zealand opportunities within our 22, which had nothing to do really with what we did in defence,’ he said.
‘Someone coming offside or someone not rolling away quickly, yeah, it’s part of the defence, but that’s more individual responsibility and making it harder for the opposition to get in our 22.
‘Yes, you have to make it as hard as possible when they’re there, but if you are giving those entries to the best teams in the world, they are looking to score over 50 per cent of the time. We need to be better there.’
Gregor Townsend has only made two changes from the side that lost to New Zealand last week
Scotland know that they must beat Australia if they are to tee-up any sort of meaningful fixture in the finals weekend of the Nations Championship. They will host Japan next weekend, before the finals take place a week later down at Twickenham.
Townsend expects Australia to be tough opposition as they look to bounce back from their own defeat to England last weekend.
‘I think Australia will have a similar mindset to ourselves,’ added the Scotland head coach. ‘They’ll want to be physical, they’ll want to start fast, and they’ll want to show a better picture of who they are.
‘They will want to try to replicate some of their big performances this year, whether that’s away to Argentina or against South Africa.
‘They picked a strong team and they have quality throughout. They will look to move the ball quickly and we know the aerial battle will also be important. I think they’ll be physical, ambitious and they’ll be a highly motivated team to go up against.
‘The weather looks like it could be wet, maybe even worse than we originally thought. Defence will be important, but we’re used to wet rugby.
‘If we perform close to our best, we believe we can take on any team in the world. That’s what we want to give ourselves a chance to do. We didn’t do that last weekend.’
