Scotland No.8 Jack Dempsey may make his aggressive return to motion for Glasgow subsequent week after seven months out, eight days earlier than Scotland’s opening recreation of the Autumn Nations Series marketing campaign in opposition to the USA.
However tighthead prop Zander Fagerson is unlikely to have any significant recreation time earlier than the worldwide season begins – leaving Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend with a range dilemma as he finalises his coaching squad to be introduced subsequent week.
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith had hoped Dempsey, who picked up a groin challenge three weeks in the past earlier than he was on account of begin in opposition to Sharks, having recovered from a hamstring harm which had sidelined him since March, is perhaps obtainable for Saturday’s URC fixture at Ospreys.
His comeback has been delayed for a minimum of one other week, even when Smith reported on Friday that Dempsey, Fagerson – who has not performed since April following calf and knee issues – plus flanker Rory Darge, who broken knee ligaments in opposition to Sharks, have been all nonetheless “on monitor” and “progressing properly” of their bid to be a part of Scotland’s marketing campaign.
“I positively assume all of them will likely be obtainable at some stage, in order that’s why the development is excellent,” he mentioned. “Hopefully, slowly however certainly, they’ll be capable to be added to the coaching squad after which to be performing for Scotland, clearly, is an goal.”
While Scotland’s second autumn Test against New Zealand is a extra probably comeback goal for Darge, Townsend must weigh up the dangers of re-introducing Fagerson straight again into Take a look at rugby, given Smith gave no indication the prop is more likely to function in Glasgow’s closing URC recreation in opposition to Bulls subsequent Friday, 24 October, earlier than the worldwide break.
“I positively assume some rugby is essential for them,” mentioned the Warriors coach. “I don’t know what the plan is with the USA recreation from a Scottish perspective. For us, I feel there’s a superb likelihood that Jack will likely be concerned subsequent week anyway, no matter what’s going to occur subsequent for Scotland. We are able to’t invent rugby time for them in the mean time.
“It’s going to be Gregor’s choice on how he’s going to make use of them and introduce them. We clearly are doing the most effective we will to have them obtainable in the most effective kind, form and bodily situation that they are often. We do not need extra video games to play for them.”
The scenario at tighthead prop is exacerbated by the truth that none of Scotland’s gamers primarily based in England and France will likely be obtainable for the USA recreation on 1 November, given it’s exterior the official autumn Take a look at window.
In addition to the uncertainty over first-choice No.3 Fagerson, Northampton’s Elliott Millar-Mills and Leicester’s Will Hurd – the 2 major back-ups over the previous 18 months – will likely be unavailable in opposition to the USA.
The Scotland aspect for that recreation will likely be made up virtually solely of Glasgow and Edinburgh gamers, giving potential alternatives to the likes of Warriors’ Fin Richardson, who received his first Take a look at cap as a substitute in opposition to Fiji this summer season, and Edinburgh’s D’Arcy Rae, who received a second cap final autumn, 5 years after his debut.
Javan Sebastian, who has featured in each URC recreation for Cardiff since leaving Edinburgh, beginning their first two, may come into consideration.
One other tighthead who already has 5 caps beneath his belt is Murphy Walker, who will begin solely his ninth recreation for Glasgow, and the seventh in Smith’s 4 seasons in cost, in opposition to Ospreys.
The Dundee-born prop, who turns 26 subsequent week, was seen as Fagerson’s potential long-term successor after being capped twice within the autumn of 2022 following simply eight senior outings for Glasgow.
However his profession has been stymied by a sequence of significant accidents over the past three years, with neck, calf and knee issues limiting him to simply 10 extra membership video games since his first Scotland caps.
After extra neck surgical procedure this summer season, he made his newest comeback off the bench in opposition to Dragons final week and can begin in opposition to Ospreys in Bridgend.
However Smith is urging warning about anticipating an excessive amount of, too quickly from the nephew of Sean Lineen, the previous Scotland centre and Glasgow coach.
“The main conversation between me and him was to keep expectations at bay,” Smith said. “I think he started off playing at a high level when he wasn’t physically ready for the challenge yet and I think that led to some of the injuries, in my honest opinion.
“Now he’s had a chance to physically improve and become so much stronger, he’s a much better age profile now for an international tighthead or a tighthead in this (URC) competition. I hope that the medical side of things are now in place and that he’s physically best prepared to continue on the journey now.”
Smith believes the early expectation around Walker may have caused him to push too hard, too early in previous comebacks, but insists the adversity he has endured in recent seasons has made him a “mentally tougher” proposition.
“This time around we just want to make sure that we build the innings for him,” he said. “He knows exactly what to expect. He’s experienced enough with comeback games. I think he’s level-headed and he’s managed his emotions well.
“We would like to help that as well by not having any more expectation of him, other than trying his best and delivering the best performance he can for where he’s at. It’s that confidence that we want to instil in him to allow him to make a step forward and progress this week, rather than be the ultimate performer.
“I believe he’s mentally much stronger. He matured as a person. Obviously, he understands the positive and negative things. He’s dealt with adversity. He’s come back from injury, he’s been under the knife.
“The big difference is physically he’s got so much stronger. If you spend so much time on the rear and it’s certain parts of your body, the rest develops. I’m sure that he’s much stronger, definitely much fitter and much more mentally tough than he’s ever been.”
