RICHIE Vernon loves it when a plan comes together. A few eyebrows were raised heavenward 18 months or so back when the 6ft 5in Dundonian decided in conjunction with a few well-placed individuals within the SRU hierarchy that his chances of further international caps would be enhanced by a swift move from back row forward to centre.
Risky decision or not, that move was utterly validated on Tuesday when the28-year-old won a place in Vern Cotter’s fiercely contested 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup. It all meant that, not content with being the first Scot since 1878 to start Tests as both a forward and a back, he becomes the first ever to be named as both a forward and a back in Scotland World Cup squads. Vernon was still a Sale Sharks player back in 2011 when Andy Robinson took him to New Zealand as a No 8.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Vernon. “When I changed position this is something I definitely had on my radar - I set my sights on being at least in contention for this World Cup. To have made it is a brilliant feeling and I'm very proud.”
All’s well that ends well. But there has been the odd doubt along the way, not least when Vernon witnessed firsthand a new generation of rivals for a place in the centre emerging such as Mark Bennett and Alex Dunbar. “It was mentioned at the time,” admitted Vernon. “They said, looking forward to the next World Cup, that they didn't have as much strength in depth in centres than they had in the back row. But then, I think the year after, three or four guys started to come through and play better and better at centre so I started to question it a little bit at that stage!
“Look, I'm happy to be here,” he added. “Even a year ago I was playing for Stirling and trying to transition and see where it would take me. From where I was then to now seems a world away."
Backs and forwards were once regarded as different breeds in rugby – either the source of relentless ribbing from the other – but Vernon is a standard bearer for a new generation of hybrid rugby player. He jokes about how he and pal Johnnie Beattie used to share a joke about how easy it would be to play in the centre, little suspecting it would soon become his unique selling point.
“I remember people saying it was a courageous choice but at the time it seemed like quite an easy one actually,” said Vernon. “I got the option to do it and it was something that always interested me. I remember Johnnie Beattie and myself were always joking, saying 'oh we could play in the centres, that wouldn't be too hard'. It was more as a joke than anything else then when I did get offered I thought I would give it a go for six months to see how it goes.
“I probably adapted to it better than I thought I might do initially,” he added. “I've had lots of little improvements to make, and I've made them. But I still feel I've lots to improve on and I’m working on that.
“Physically back-rows and centres are quite similar, so that probably was the easier side of things,” he said. “But there were things I had to sharpen up on defensively. A lot of people told me 13 was the hardest place to defend and I was really lucky to have had [defence coach] Matt Taylor at Glasgow and lots of good wingers and 12s to work with. It did take a bit of adapting to and in the first two or three months there was lots of getting things wrong. But at least I knew I was getting them wrong and how to fix them.”
Vernon has won the day in a squad which places huge emphasis on power, dynamism and flexibility. Indeed, with resources likely to be stretched by a pool stage programme which squeezes in four high octane matches in 18 days, it isn’t too outlandish to think that Vernon may yet be asked to make the return journey and asked to reprise his responsibilities in the back row. He did well as No 8 for Glasgow in a European Champions Cup match in Bath.
“It would probably feel a little alien to me but I do feel like it would be something I could do,” said Vernon. “I have played international rugby in the back row before, although it was a long time ago now. But having played that game against Bath I feel it is something I could slip back into for my country if required. But I'm sure there would be lots of others ahead of me."
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