RORY HUTCHINSON is out for revenge.
The Northampton centre wasn’t even at the Rugby World Cup last autumn having missed the cut for Gregor Townsend’s squad yet such was the disappointment of the national team’s performance in their opening game of the tournament against Ireland, Hutchinson is champing at the bit to put things right.
On Saturday, Scotland open their Six Nations campaign with a visit to Dublin.
The Irish are formidable opponents at home at any time but given their 27-3 mauling of the Scots in Japan last year, Hutchinson and his compatriots must be close to their very best of they are to narrow, or even reverse the scoreline.
But the 23-year-old is confident that they can put on a good showing at the Aviva Stadium and he is setting the bar high as to where he wants the side to finish come the end of the tournament.
“Everyone's really excited (about facing Ireland) because we want to prove a point,” he said.
“After a disappointing World Cup, we want to come back and compete, and beat the best teams. We're really looking forward to a fresh start in a new competition.
“100 percent (we want revenge). We want to win all our games.
“We don't want to go there and get rolled over, we want to go there and win. We want to be the very best.”
Hutchinson has to be admired for his optimism and having missed out on selection for the World Cup, having a fresh face in the dressing room with such enthusiasm this tournament can only be a positive thing.
The Six Nations will not be Hutchinson’s international debut though; he has already gained three caps, including one start for the national team, but all were in warm-up games for last year’s World Cup.
So, if all goes to plan for the English-born Scot, who qualifies for Townsend’s squad through his grandmother, the next few weeks will see him make his first international appearance in a competitive fixture. But he is not getting ahead of himself.
“To be able to play in such a big tournament like this would be great, where it means something rather than the warm-up games,” he said.
“Hopefully I do get the opportunity and to play in a tournament that’s so big, it’d be brilliant. But I’ve got to do the hard graft now, I’ve got to deserve the place. At the moment, there are some great centres so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Hutchinson is not wrong when he says the competition between the centres for starting spots is stiff.
Missing out on World Cup selection was a bitter blow for Hutchinson but he refused to dwell on things and instead vowed to use the feedback from Townsend to make the jump to the next level.
“I'm not sure if I wanted to prove a point, I just knew that I had to get on with it,” he said of his omission from the World Cup squad.
“I wanted to get back and play rugby, that's all I could do. For me, it's about getting consistent rugby and I've been getting that at Northampton.
“I felt like I'd played well in the warm-up games. But there are a lot of good players in my position and I was one to miss out. Gregor gave me his feedback and gave me work-ons which I'm still trying to do now."
The chances of Hutchinson getting some serious game-time at the Six Nations may have been boosted last week, when Finn Russell left the squad after a “breach of team protocol”. The Racing 92 centre will not be considered for selection for this weekend’s game after a drinking session at the team hotel, with his participation in the remainder of the tournament still in question. And so Hutchinson’s versatility of being able to play at 12 or 13, as well as his past experience at 10, may stand him in good stead in the coming weeks.
“I like getting my hands on the ball so wherever that will be and wherever he puts me, I’ll do my best,” he said.
“I have done some training sessions covering 10 and I used to play there at under-20s. I can cover and I’m always happy to step in.”
The Scotland squad are spending the coming week in Spain for a training camp in preparation for the Ireland clash, which was arranged after a successful camp in Portugal ahead of the World Cup last year.
The Portugal trip was Hutchinson’s first taste of the national set-up and was, in his view, the ideal way to get ready for a major tournament.
And so with the team needing to be at their very best come Saturday, Hutchinson is looking forward the squad’s week in Spain.
“I absolutely loved Portugal, it’s a time to go away with the squad and really get to know people,” he said.
“For me, being the newbie, I got to know the boys really well. I thought it was a really good training week in the heat and with the intensity we trained at.
“I’m all for these trips away and I hope this one will be even better than Portugal.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here