Auckland-born Tom Jordan, a 26-year-old who solely made his skilled debut two years in the past, has been introduced straight into Gregor Townsend’s workforce for the Autumn Nations Sequence match in opposition to Fiji on Sunday.
The previous champion swimmer left New Zealand novice rugby in 2019 to play in Scotland and stayed on, attributable to Covid restrictions on his journey.
Having simply happy the eligibility guidelines by staying there for 5 years, he has been picked at first alternative by Townsend – and joins a squad with an enormous southern hemisphere flavour.
“He brings an power, an aggression to the sport that’s going to be barely completely different to what you usually see at Check stage at 10,” mentioned Townsend of Jordan.
“He’s actually labored exhausting on his primary abilities, his fundamentals of kicking, kick-offs, passing. He’s going so as to add one thing to our again line when he comes on.”
Aussie Sione Tuipulotu has been named captain, with former Wallaby Jack Dempsey at No.8 and South African born star Duhan van der Merwe additionally chosen.
Fiji coach Mick Byrne has been restricted by the worldwide window to choosing gamers solely from Fijian Drua. That features a potential debut off the bench for Wallaby star Rob Valetini’s brother Kemueli Valetini.
The flyhalf/inside centre Jordan’s rise with Scotland’s Glasgow Warriors has been meteoric and he was named on the bench with Finn Russell dominated out as a result of Check falling outdoors the worldwide window.
After leaving New Zealand and the Hamilton Outdated Boys (the place he was picked for the Waikato Academy) to hitch Ayrshire Bulls in 2019, he was seen by then Glasgow and later Wallabies coach Dave Rennie and invited to coach with the Scottish giants.
He signed professional phrases with Glasgow in late 2021 however didn’t debut till present head coach Franco Smith took command of the Warriors in 2022.
Earlier this yr, Jordan advised the Lads Speaking Footy podcast that he initially got here to Britain intending a brief keep however caught round as a result of Covid pandemic.
Tom Jordan of Glasgow Warriors. (Picture by David Rogers/Getty Photographs)
“Earlier than I used to be like, oh, no matter, simply see what occurs, however I believe as I’ve gone on extra, and being extra in keeping with Glasgow, I believe it’s positively one thing that I can intention for,” Jordan mentioned.
“Worldwide rugby can be fairly cool. That’s the highest stage. Scotland are shifting up as one of many prime groups. So that will be a reasonably cool aim, to play worldwide rugby. To try in the direction of that will be fairly superior, and I believe in the event you’ve obtained that aim, I believe loads of different issues care for themselves.”
British Lions rep Ali Value will make his first Scotland begin in over a yr.
The 31-year-old has saved out Glasgow pair George Horne and Jamie Dobie.
Capped 66 instances, Value was first selection for Scotland till the tip of 2022, however made only one look in its place throughout this yr’s Six Nations.
“We really feel this yr Ali’s performed very well when Edinburgh have gone effectively, the final two video games specifically,” mentioned Townsend.
“George and Jamie are competing actually exhausting with Ben, who might be accessible for us subsequent week, so we see the 4 of them as all having their completely different attributes.
“We’ve gone for Ali as a result of we consider he’s in the perfect kind proper now. He seemed actually refreshed after having a summer time off.
“Ali’s a Lion, he’s a high quality participant. George and Jamie are high quality gamers too, so we have now actually good depth at 9 and Ali’s obtained a possibility this week.”
Solely six gamers from Fiji’s 23 that misplaced to England in final yr’s World Cup quarterfinal are included in Fiji’s first squad of the Nations Sequence, as they appear to beat Scotland at Murrayfield for the primary time.
Scrumhalf Frank Lomani is the one beginning again to be chosen from that recreation, with Simi Kuruvoli additionally returning to supply cowl from the bench.
Within the forwards the survivors from the England defeat embody captain and hooker Tevita Ikanivere, lock Isoa Nasilasila and flanks Meli Derenalagi and Vilive Miramira.
All 23 gamers within the squad to face Scotland might be enjoying for Fijian Drua subsequent season.
Scotland vs Fiji, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Sunday Nov 3, 4.40am AEDT
Scotland: Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Ali Value, Adam Hastings, Duhan van der Merwe, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Darcy Graham, Kyle Rowe.
Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland, D’Arcy Rae, Max Williamson, Gregor Brown, Jamie Dobie, Tom Jordan, Stafford McDowall.
Fiji: Haereiti Hetet, Tevita Ikanivere (captain), Samuela Tawake, Isoa Nasilasila, Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, Ratu Meli Derenalagi, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Frank Lomani, Caleb Muntz, Ponipate Loganimasi, Inia Tabuavou, Apisalome Vota, Vuate Karawalevu, Isaiah Ravula.
Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Livai Natave, Jone Koroiduadua, Mesake Vocevoce, Vilive Miramira, Simi Kuruvoli, Kemueli Valetini, Waqa Nalaga.
