Grant Gilchrist, the man Vern Cotter originally earmarked as his Scotland captain, was parachuted straight into the starting team for the head coach’s final game in charge in today’s RBS 6 Nations finale against Italy.
Richie Gray was unable to shake off a hamstring injury, but instead of calling Tim Swinson off the bench to partner clubmate Jonny Gray, Cotter and his coaching team recalled Gilchrist to start for the first time since the Argentina test in November.
Swinson remains on the bench because Scotland prefer his profile as a late-game replacement and “Grant with what he offers around the pitch would be better suited to start.”, said specialist coach Nathan Hines yesterday.
It’ll be Gilchrist’s first Six Nations game since his debut against France in 2013, the Alloa-bred player having had brutal luck with injuries over the last two seasons.
He was Cotter’s original choice as captain when the New Zealander arrived in 2014, but a broken arm suffered just before the autumn tests that year – allowing Jonny Gray to make his Scotland debut – knocked the lock out of the entire 2014-15 season.
Gilchrist returned for the Rugby World Cup in 2015 but suffered a groin injury in the second match of the tournament which cost him the rest of last season as well.
The surprise is not just Gilchrist coming straight into the team having not featured even off the bench during the championship so far but also in that he hasn’t been first choice to start for Edinburgh in recent weeks.
Clubmate Ben Toolis, currently statistically the most efficient lineout forward in the PRO12 playing for a struggling team, can think himself unfortunate to have been overlooked again.
“We weren’t sure about Richie so Grant has run his role and we’re well prepared,” said Hines yesterday.
“It’s good to see Grant being given an opportunity and, with his quality, he can fill that spot with ease. We’re confident about where he’s at and what he can provide.”