SCOTT CUMMINGS says he is open to the idea of playing at blindside flanker for Glasgow Warriors on a more regular basis if that's what is best for the team.
The 24-year-old, who has established himself as Scotland’s first choice second-row since making his debut away to France during the build-up to the 2019 World Cup, was pressed into action as a replacement back-row during Warriors’ pre-season schedule – and head coach Danny Wilson believes it could be a useful selection option for the team going forward.
“It was a little bit of an experiment but it was also a little bit of needs must,” explained Wilson earlier this week. “At that time, we had several players unavailable to us in the back-row so you look at your second-row and decide who is best suited of the group who are available for that game, and it was probably Scott.
“He is a strong carrier. He’s obviously a good lineout forward, a decent defender as well and he’s mobile.
“If you think of a wet, windy night when you are playing a giant European pack – to be able to put out a pack that can match it, it might include Scott Cummings at six because he’s such a big lump and a physical man.
“But we’ve also got Jack Dempsey fit again, plus Ryan Wilson, Rory Darge and Tom Gordon, so we’ve got other players who can play in a slightly different way.”
Hybrid back-five forwards have become fashionable in pro rugby in recent seasons, with Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes (both England) and Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) among the athletes to have successfully combined the height and bulk of a second-row with the pace and ball-playing ability of a back-row.
“I like to think I can cover No6 if needed,” said Cummings. “I’ll just play wherever I’m needed. I played back-row in the Worcester game and enjoyed it, so if I end up playing there again then great.”
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