The Scotland camp has been a dangerous place for rugby players who wear a No 2 on their back during this World Cup campaign, with George Turner revealing yesterday how he almost became a fourth victim of the curse of the hookers which has caused selection headaches for head coach Gregor Townsend throughout the tournament.
First Ewan Ashman missed the opening weekend defeat to South Africa in Marseilles because of a concussion suffered in training earlier that week. Fortunately, he is now fit again and played against both Tonga and Romania during the last fortnight.
His Edinburgh team-mate Dave Cherry – who came off the bench against the Springboks – was not so lucky. He also suffered a concussion – after a mysterious fall at the team hotel at the end of a team day out on the Monday after that loss – and was sent home.
Former Scotland captain Stuart McInally flew out to France as cover, but lasted just over a week and did not play before also having to return home with a neck injury. That was a particularly tragic case as the 33-year-old – who was part of the national team’s wider training squad all summer but didn’t make the final cut – had already announced that he was hanging up his boots after this World Cup window.
That means the former Edinburgh man has been – agonisingly – left stranded on 49 caps, which is a crying shame for a man who has been a great servant to the Scottish game over a decade and a half.
Now Turner – who is Scotland’s first choice in the highly specialist position of hooker – has explained that he was rushed to hospital after slicing open his hand whilst cutting a French baguette.
“The hookers are getting a bit of a rough time here, but I’ll be fine,” said the Glasgow Warriors front-rower. “It was the day before the South Africa game. I cut my hand open and got four or five stitches.
“It just tugged a bit, and I was thinking: ‘That bread is a bit tough’ – then I realised it was my hand. The doctor said I had to go to hospital, which was a bit of panic stations, but it was fine. He sewed me up straight away.
“I had to bandage it during the game, and it kept coming off which was a bit annoying, but it’s fine now. It didn’t really affect me during the game but maybe I’ll blame my bad line-out throwing on it!”
One thing is for sure, there can be no repeat of those wayward line-outs when Scotland takes on Ireland on Saturday night. Scotland lost four balls on their own throw against the Springbok, which was especially disappointing because they didn’t feel they were really pressurised by the Springboks in that area.
Scotland must beat Ireland by eight points if they are to progress from this World Cup’s ‘pool of death’ to the tournament quarter-finals.
“We’ve talked about our performance against South Africa and we gave ourselves maybe a six out of 10,” said Turner. “We changed a few things up and it didn’t quite click.
“We need to be 9 or 10 out of 10 to beat the best teams in the world, especially Ireland in a World Cup where it’s a must-win game for them as well.
“We do a lot of work around our mindset for games. It’s about keeping calm in the madness of rugby.
“You don’t get better without making mistakes. We strive to learn from them and get better each time.
“You break it down to certain specific areas of your own game and I’ve got my throwing to focus on.
“We believe in ourselves, and we believe in each other. We’re a tight-knit group and we trust each other.”
Scotland have managed two comfortable wins in their games against Tonga and Romania since that opening weekend set-back against the Springboks.
While Ireland will offer a big step up in intensity, Turner insisted that the ruthlessness his team showed in their 84-0 demolition of Romania was an important step forward.
“We mention that a lot that we get a good half, a good 60 minutes, then switch off,” he explained.
“We set down a good marker against Romania with 80 minutes of boys playing well and finishing strong.
“We kept them to zero which was also a big goal for that game, so it was a good marker and a good energy boost for the squad.
“We’re here to win, we want to win, and we believe we can. Everyone knew this would be a massive game. I’m just raring to go.”
Meanwhile, Turner’s front-row partner in crime, South Africa loose-head Pierre Schoeman, described his involvement in this World Cup as a miracle, after the Covid-19 pandemic led to a delay in World Rugby changing the three-year residency rule to five years.
That meant the 29-year-old – who joined Edinburgh from the Bulls in 2018 – was able to make his international debut in October 2021 as opposed to having to wait until this summer to become eligible, by which time it would probably have been too late for him to force his way into the World Cup squad.
“I can only say with gratitude that it is a miracle, to be honest,” he said. “It would have actually been five years but because of Covid, it was three years, so two years less.
“I would have only made my debut for Scotland now (this summer) if it wasn’t for Covid so there is always a blessing in disguise somewhere.
“Representing Scotland at the World Cup is the best thing I have experienced in my rugby journey,” he added.
“I have been honoured and privileged to do it. And with the team we have, the management and the players are a really good group.
“It has been amazing. I have to give credit to our partners and our families for the sacrifices they have made but in the south of France, the passion they have for their rugby and having all the Scottish fans here as well, that’s massive.
“The amount of fans that came over makes you realise that you have to play a bit harder for them as well.”
