Richie Gray is back in the Scotland team, set to start a test for the first time in six years. Not the time to start talking about retirement.
“I’m not talking about finishing,” insisted the 33-year-old, who could win his 68th cap against Fiji at Murrayfield in Saturday’s second Autumn Test.
Revitalised by returning to Glasgow over the past two seasons and changing his game a little, Gray’s return from concussion protocols this week is well timed.
Warriors clubmate Scott Cummings and Edinburgh’s Sam Skinner have been ruled out of the rest of the Autumn with injury.
Just a few years ago it seemed only injury could stop the 6ft 10in elder Gray brother from unseating Scott Murray as Scotland’s most-capped lock.
A few spells on the treatment table didn’t help, but instead it’s been brother Jonny – himself returning to action and likely to win his 70th cap this autumn – who has been the fixture.
Gray playing ‘best rugby in five years’
Ruling the skies ✈️
A menace for opposition lineouts – check out Richie Gray's 2021/22 #BKTURC stats ahead of our season opener 👊
Player Focus | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/FNAAAsWxuP
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) September 16, 2022
Gregor Townsend thinks Richie is playing his best rugby in five years, and the player agrees.
“I think I had a pretty good year last year,” he said of his first year back in Glasgow after nine away, mostly in France.
“It was a bit different, in terms of what I was trying to produce on the pitch. This year I’m just trying to have a few more moments in terms of link play in attack.”
“Last year was very good on the foundations – set piece and lineout but also lineout defence, general defence about the pitch. They’re now a massive part of the game.
“I was happy with where I got to last year and this year I have been trying to link up in attack between forwards and backs.
“That’s been the big focus for me in these first few games of the season. I think I can still push forward, but I’m happy with where I’m at.”
The sight of Gray careering forward as a ball carrier in the pas recalls that he wasn’t just a setpiece man, but it does seem curious his consistency in that area didn’t get him a recall sooner.
“The time of the 2019 World Cup I had the birth of my first child and a whole host of injuries,” he said. “The timing just wasn’t right (to come back).
“But physically I feel great and mentally I’m in a really good place as well. I’m happy with the rugby I’ve been playing so I want to come in and have a go at it.
“Rugby players go on a bit longer these days. I take a lot of confidence from that.
‘The World Cup is certainly an ambition’
A 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 presence for @Scotlandteam 🏴
Happy Birthday Richie Gray 🥳 pic.twitter.com/2E6cuhFnN9
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) August 24, 2022
“It’s not about it the last waltz or anything like that. It’s just about coming in and playing some rugby.
“The Rugby World Cup next year is certainly an ambition. But let’s take it a step at a time. We’ve got a tough game this weekend.”
He recalls not exactly playing to instructions the last time he played against Fiji, fully ten tears ago.
“The coach then Andy Robinson said, ‘let’s not get carried away in a sevens match’. But I think with my first touch I offloaded the ball and they intercepted.
“I won’t be doing that at the weekend!”