Gregor Townsend tips ‘Test match animal’ Tom Jordan to fly as Scotland fly-half

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is looking forward to seeing “Test match animal” Tom Jordan starting at fly-half in Saturday’s inaugural Nations Championship opener against Argentina in Cordoba.

Finn Russell, who has not been named in the matchday squad, is hoping to recover in time from a calf injury and be back in contention for next week’s clash against world champions South Africa in Pretoria.

But Townsend feels he has strength in depth in the pivotal number 10 role as Bristol’s Jordan gets the nod over another versatile New Zealand-born back, Saracens’ Fergus Burke, who starts on the bench.

Jordan, who will win his 18th senior cap for the Scots, can also play at full-back and centre, but has thrived at fly-half for Bristol after AJ MacGinty ruptured his Achilles on the opening day of the Gallagher Premiership season.

When asked what he expects from the 27-year-old Jordan on Saturday, Townsend said: “More of the same, and how he’s been playing for his club team. I think we’re blessed with the 10s that we have on this this tour.

“Tom’s played all season really at 10 when AJ MacGinty picked up an injury.

“He’s played a 10 for us, 12 for us, 15. He’s a Test match animal, like he brings so much energy and is able to bring his own game when he plays for Scotland.

“So we’re looking forward to seeing him start. And then Fergus Burke on the bench. He has probably been the form 10 in England over the last two months of the season, so he’s in great physical shape.

“He’s full of confidence, so we expect him to play a part in the weekend too.”

Perpignan second row Jonny Gray returns to the starting XV after missing out on the Six Nations and he will partner Scott Cummings, who is set to win his 50th cap. Prop Pierre Schoeman will also reach the landmark.

“It’s great for (Gray) to be back in the squad,” Townsend said. “Since his move to Perpignan, he’s played very well so his form’s been rewarded with this opportunity. It’s obviously nice that him and Scott Cummings are playing together.

“Jonny was at Glasgow when Scott came through as an 18-year-old. It will be great to see them both back in the second row again.”

Townsend stressed again the “painful lessons” learned in Scotland’s last encounter with Argentina in November when they let slip a 21-0 lead to lose 33-24 at Murrayfield.

“We’ll have to gel quickly, it’s our first game since we played in Dublin (a 43-21 Six Nations defeat to Ireland),” he added.

“We’ve got a lot of evidence in the Six Nations and November that when we get our game in place in attack and defence, we can cause problems to any team in world rugby and do more than that, convert opportunities.

“I believe that our squad now is much deeper and we use that bench to continue what the starters are doing or actually raise the energy.”