Two seasons as a Warringah Rat helped shape attacking attitude of Scotland coach Gregor Townsend
HE had too much zip for Michael Cheika in Sydney club rugby and Gregor Townsend is hoping he can make history repeat when his ambitious Scottish team attack the Wallabies.
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HE had too much zip for Michael Cheika in Sydney club rugby and Gregor Townsend is hoping he can make history repeat when his ambitious Scottish team run the ball at the Wallabies on Saturday.
Townsend is still fondly remembered on the northern beaches after playing two Shute Shield seasons as a no.10 for the Warringah Rats, in 1993 and 1995.
In his first season, the then 20-year-old Scottish import combined with France’s Test hardman Abdel Benazzi to take the Rats to the 1993 Shute Shield final, where they lost to Gordon.
For Townsend — who went on to play 82 times for Scotland — the time in Sydney club rugby not only helped hone his attacking mindset as a player, it has carried through to his coaching as well.
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The former Rat is back in the harbour city this week as Scotland’s new Test coach and along with a golf game with Rats mate Rod Macqueen, Townsend’s goal is continue the recent evolution of Scottish rugby from dour to dashing on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
“It’s great to come back here,” Townsend said.
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“I really enjoyed my time with Warringah. I enjoyed the people, the experience and the rugby was very aligned to my thoughts on rugby.
“It was played top of the ground, moving the ball quickly. I was very, very impressed with the handling ability of Australian midfield backs and it has only got better since the game went professional.
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“The fact they played on the gainline, and the fact they wanted to move the ball. This was a philosophy at every club we came up against and even the mentality, I liked: laid back before the game but tough and into it once the game started.”
Townsend came up against Cheika in a handful of club games.
“The Randwick team in those days … Campo was still playing, Lloyd Walker, some brilliant handlers, Cheiks as well,” he said.
Cheika was one of the enforcers of Sydney club rugby but even if he managed to avoided the ominous grip of Benazzi, the Randwick no.8 could never get hold of the evasive kid from Gala.
“He was excellent. He was pretty nimble and did pretty well,” Cheika said.
“I was always trying to chase him and get a hold of him but I couldn’t catch him. He has done very well in coaching and it’s great that he’s coaching the Scottish team now. I am sure we are going to be in for a few good tussles going forward.”
Forecasts of rain may dictate terms slightly but Townsend will still be looking to run the ball in Sydney.
The Scots have transformed in the last five years from being a forward-based team to confidently running the ball wide.
Under the recently departed Vern Cotter, they improved their try-scoring average from 1.5 tries per game to 2.5, and Townsend — who succeeded Cotter after the Six Nations this year — the attacking attitude is still a priority.
A central actor in that ambition is adventurous pivot Finn Russell, who carries a mindset of attacking the line that is reminiscent of Townsend in his pomp.
“He has certainly led the way the team has played in terms of ambition — taking the ball to the line and being confident enough to make decisions,” Townsend said.
“Not all of them are going to work but he has that mindset. He is calm under pressure and if he sees space in attack he will go out and grab it.”
Cheika said the Wallabies had to “get in the face” of Russell to ensure he doesn’t rumble.
“We can’t let him orchestrate the game or we will be chasing our tails,” he said.
Cheika has had his fill of chasing nimble Scots.
Originally published as Two seasons as a Warringah Rat helped shape attacking attitude of Scotland coach Gregor Townsend
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