Autumn Nations Cup: Jaco van der Walt to make Scotland debut in Ireland

Last updated on .From the section Scottish Rugbycomments677

Jaco van der Walt in Scotland training
Jaco van der Walt qualifies on residency grounds after joining Edinburgh in 2017
Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland v Scotland
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 5 December Kick-off: 14:15 GMT
Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds; follow live text on the BBC Sport website and app.

Edinburgh's Jaco van der Walt has "taken his game to another level", says Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, as the fly-half prepares to make his debut against Ireland on Saturday.

The 26-year-old, who was born in South Africa, has just qualified for Scotland through residency.

Scotland travel to Ireland aiming to finish third in the Autumn Nations Cup.

"Defensively, he must be one of the best tackling stand-offs in world rugby," Townsend said of Van der Walt.

"It will be just that little bit quicker at international level but we have a real belief and faith in his ability and in those around him to bring the best out of our backline this weekend.

"This year and last year he's taken his game to another level."

Van der Walt replaces Duncan Weir and is one of six changes to the side that lost 22-15 to France, as Scotland try to win in Ireland for the first time since 2009.

Saracens centre Duncan Taylor will make his first Scotland start since the win against Russia in the 2019 World Cup.

Winger Darcy Graham returns to the side along with Edinburgh team-mate Rory Sutherland, who is at loosehead prop again after injury.

Glasgow Warriors tighthead Zander Fagerson also returns to the front row, while there is a positional change in the back row, with Edinburgh flanker Jamie Ritchie moving to the openside in the absence of Hamish Watson and Scarlets' Blade Thomson starting on the blindside.

Warriors centre Huw Jones, who has been playing full-back this season, and 34-year-old London Irish flanker Blair Cowan are set to make their first appearances of the autumn campaign from the bench.

Glasgow prop Oli Kebble moves to the bench, while Blair Kinghorn, Sam Johnson, Duncan Weir, Simon Berghan and Watson miss out on the match-day squad.

Gloucester centre Chris Harris and two Glasgow men - scrum-half Ali Price and lock Scott Cummings - are the only three players to have started every match in Scotland's 2020 autumn campaign.

Scotland team to face Ireland

Scotland: Hogg, Graham, Harris, Taylor, Van der Merwe; Van der Walt, Price; Sutherland, Brown, Z Fagerson; Cummings, Gray; Thomson, Ritchie, M Fagerson.

Replacements: McInally, Kebble, Nel, Skinner, Cowan, Hidalgo-Clyne, Jones, Maitland.

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  • Utter nonsense. Don't know why Scotland even bother with age grade teams. Why bother if Bok rejects can step off the plane and into the team.

    • Blott replied:
      Townsends son been called up to u20’s, I’ve not seen him play but could he be fast tracked ?

  • As a Scotland and Edinburgh supporter I will say this on residency (not a fan of it):

    1. We have two pro teams and a limited player base, were it not for injuries he wouldn't get a look in under normal circumstances.

    2. The rules are the rules on residency, pretty much everyone does it to varying degrees.

    3. He has "served hard time" at Edinburgh and has stuck with it, fair play to him.

    • first five-eighth replied:
      Is it time to put a cap on how many residency players can be in a 23 for International sides.

      I’d say 3 per any 23 named.

      Otherwise just becoming Club rugby under the International banner imo.

      Recently Ireland had 8 players residency qualified in their 23.

      That’s just bonkers - it’s far too much

  • I think Scottish rugby has treated Duncan Weir terribly, to leave him out of the squad completely is embarrassing.

    • Blott replied:
      To be fair his hair is embarrassing, what’s he thinking wearing an alice band ? I thought Henson was odd preening himself endlessly.... nice targets for opensides

  • I'm sure Jocko van der McWalt will do very well.

    • WindsorBloke replied:
      I thought he was a Dutch detective.

  • I know J Gray is excellent defensively etc, but is he ever going to take his game to the next level or is that it. He doesn't seem to make any impact now in the loose when he gets the ball, doesn't break the gain line. I'd have given him a rest against France never mind this game. Skinner and Toolis deserve a chance

    • tracey61 replied:
      I agree! J Gray hasn't lived up to his potential. Can't see him making the Lions squad either.

  • Hogg - a lot to rectify with your mistakes this season ( Ireland, England and now France ). Can anyone tell me why with an excellent kicking 10 against France, Weir was not taking the kick offs and touch line kicks. At least he would have made touch with the last chance penalty kick against France. Hogg - just concentrate on the 15 job

    • Ali replied:
      In the match I watched Hoggy was fantastic. The game was kicking heavy, and he did that job very well. A lot of high balls well placed and well chased too. Good in defence and made good decisions as captain.

      He makes one slight mistake (in a situation where we really needed to gamble to have a realistic shot at the try) and that's all you remember. Have a little perspective and stop moaning.

  • So much moaning!

    Scot. have two teams who for years have been struggling to compete vs. Eng. / France - only going to get worse post Covid. Even Wales & Ire have four teams each. Have to use who we have.

    JVW - 2 of our starting 10's are injured. Playing for very little here, so a good time to blood him before 6N. Weir had no bench cover for last few games either.

    Positive thoughts!

    • short and curly replied:
      Maybe the number of teams is a factor, however quite a few Scottish, Welsh and Irish are playing in England - or France.

  • Seriously guys what message does this send to up & coming Scots rugby players? That we’d rather pay SH guys to qualify than put effort into our own, no prob them playing for clubs but not international and that goes for ALL tier 1 sides

    • RugbyMad replied:
      Bit of an over simplification of things. First two choices who are products of the Scot system are both injured. Weir 3rd and has done well. Townsend wants to try someone else to see if they can make it at int level even if just as short term cover so he picks VDW. Chamberlain at Ed is a Scot product but not ready to step up yet with only a handful of senior starts and toony Jr has even less exp.

  • The sooner World Rugby eliminate ‘project players’ of ALL descriptions the better. It just isn’t right and it helps to paper over the abysmal SRU failures in the introduction of professionalism to rugby in Scotland. Ever £ spent in that direction is a £ taken from youth, schools and academy player development.

    Should be 7 year residence or parents born in a country before eligibility is offered.

    • itsamrlee replied:
      100%. Make it 10

  • ScotAfrica against IreAfrica should be a good side .

    All the Van Der.... coupled with the actual Scottish & Irish.

    Before anyone starts just a joke. How many times have I heard South Sea England

    • Obsen replied:
      I don't know, how many times?

  • Feel for Duncy Weir again. Fingers crossed for an entertaining match and not a dull kick fest.

    • Pete replied:
      Agree. Duncy did well. Let's hope the team does better than last time when they were good in parts, awful in parts & average the rest of the time .

  • “Born” in South Africa. Argh it winds me up how the media try to make it more palatable. He’s 26 years old and has only been over here for the last 3!
    Yes, all countries do it, etc etc.

    • ChunnnGeeKippa YoooSsshee QQQQQ replied:
      ...or South African born :-0
      Wait a minute ....hmmm...let me think
      Of course South African born
      He’s South African ....

  • De Walt is a handy piece of kit.

    I have many in my shed.

    • Dai Quietly replied:
      At least you never said he was a tool...

  • Is Hamish Watson injured? I also feel a bit sorry for Weir - but happy to be proved wrong...Hope that Huw Jones takes full opportunity [like he did for Warriors] Gie it laldie.

    • McB1894 replied:
      Watson injured yeah

  • Matt Fagerson...don't get it. Please, Gregor, when the 6 Nations comes around, give Gary Graham and/or Nick Haining another shot.

    Looking forward to it though - experience vs form.

    • Gooney replied:
      Yes Graham has been playing well at Newcastle in the 8 position

  • It seems whatever teams national coaches choose there are people ready to criticise. I have supported Scotland since my teens, 64 years, and I just enjoy watching and supporting win, lose or draw. Obviously I prefer it when we win, but support is about getting behind whatever the team is and giving them total support instead of Trump style whinging and complaining.

    • JimmyC replied:
      Well said.

      There’s an ugly undertone to some of the objections to overseas players representing their adopted countries, and it seems quite specific to rugby for some reason. You don’t see as much vitriol about “England” cricketers, for example.

  • As an English man I'm shocked, always thought you had to be a blood descendant of Rob Roy to play for Scotland!! Doesn't make England look so bad! About time this residency was stopped or at least upped to 7-10 years or you have to play for country of berth or a parent born in that country. Wit top clubs filling up with foreign players what chance has local youth got!

    • Gwilym Hughes replied:
      It's about to be changed to 5 years isn't it?

  • Just want to clear up the confusion around residency. The residency rule increases to 5 years on 31 Dec this year, so only players that have moved countries before 31 Dec 2017 are eligible under the 3 year rule. Anyone who has moved since the start of this year is subject to the 5 year rule.

    • Scott replied:
      Therefore it makes perfect sense to play him tomorrow.

  • I am impressed by the amount of research done on here to identify the birthplace of all the Scottish 23, when they are all legitimate under the current rules!

    • Rob replied:
      A bit like Trump was with Obama's birth 😊

  • Must be someone with a wicked sense of humour in the BBC sport website team.

    And cue lively debate on eligibility....

    • HABlet replied:
      No, most posters can drag almost any discussion into one on eligibility. The HYS elves are just trolling the people who pay their salaries.

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