The selection news from Scotstoun that Ali Price was surplus to requirements for tomorrow’s derby match, was sufficient to draw the observation from the Edinburgh camp that, already being paid by the SRU, there could well be room for him in their squad next season.
Tongue was firmly in cheek, but the man who began this season, and even the recent Six Nations Championship, as Scotland’s first choice scrum-half has been given a taste of his own medicine, having himself usurped Henry Pyrgos who had recently captained his country. It was the latest evidence of a readiness to favour form over reputation within the domestic professional game.
With Price left out of the match 23 for the 1872 Challenge Cup decider against Edinburgh, uncapped youngster George Horne is preferred in the starting line-up with Pyrgos on the bench.
“He has been our best performing nine,” was head coach Dave Rennie’s straightforward explanation.
“He’s had a great season. His speed around the track, his ability to get to the ball quickly, his ability to get second touch, he’s electric... fantastic for us and deserves his opportunity to play in such a big game.”
He will combine with another player who has found that Rennie is willing to leave out those considered star players, as Finn Russell keeps his
place in the side in spite of last week’s bonus-point defeat in Ulster.
While the combination is untried, the coach clearly believes Horne’s capacity to pressurise defences can give additional scope to his mercurial partner.
“They started together against Exeter. They haven’t played a lot of games together, but they have trained a lot,” said Rennie. “We haven’t based his selection so much on the combination. It has been about his form throughout the year.
“He’s a rare breed, incredibly quick but he can go for 80 minutes because he’s phenomenally fit. There’s not too many nines in the world who can do that.
“Some are well-conditioned, but not fast. Or they’re quick but they can’t go long enough. He really suits the kind of game we want to play and it means Edinburgh are going to have to be aware of him which might create space for someone else.”
In similar vein there is no place in the 23 for Alex Dunbar, who has previously been given considerable responsibility for club and country.
The antipodean pairing of Sam Johnson and Nick Grigg are preferred in midfield.
“The key is that we have to be at our best at semi-final and final time,” Rennie said.
“That’s all that counts in the end. We have a three-week block leading into that. I’m happy with where we are. We have a good bunch of men and we have depth and quality to pick from. We just need to be sharper and more clinical.”
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