George Horne never thought of himself as third in line for the No 9 shirt for Scotland in this World Cup and now he gets the chance to prove he’s a whole lot more.
The 24-year-old was the presumptive third scrum-half behind the experienced Greig Laidlaw and Glasgow club mate Ali Price coming into the tournament, but now Price has gone through injury he’s the next man in line to Laidlaw with many thinking he might be poised to take over completely.
Always a prolific try-scorer – three in seven appearances for Scotland, only two of which were starts, and 22 tries for Glasgow in just over two years – Horne’s all-action game would appear to be perfect for Scotland’s preferred high-tempo game, but he’s got to get the chance to show it.
“I didn’t ever think I was third choice scrum-half,” he said. “Greig has a lot of experience and Ali is playing great. I just wanted to show up as well as I could in training and push them all the way for the spots and contribute well whether I am in the squad or the 23.
“It has been a really great experience so far as a player. The fact i am hopefully going to get a shot this week is hugely exciting, I can’t wait to get out there.”
As for being a potential heir to Laidlaw, who is likely to step down after this World Cup, that doesn’t really come into it.
“That’s not how I think about it,” he continued. “I just think of trying to play as well as I can and if game time comes then that’s great.
“I don’t think: ‘Oh, if Greig is going then hopefully I can be number one’. You think about playing well and trying to win for Scotland. The only goal is to win the next three games and get out this group.
“But absolutely, that why we play rugby – to play for Scotland and you want to start. So, yeah, I want to be playing and I want to be starting.”
Horne’s biggest attribute is the energy and pace he brings to a game, but he’s learning form Laidlaw the qualities of game management as well.
“The way I train and play, I try and bring energy through what I do. As one of the younger guys, I’m maybe not the most vocal, but as a nine you have to be, so I try to make sure everyone knows what I am doing.
“But Greig’s been a big influence. He’s played 74 times for Scotland, he’s a leader of the boys, so tapping into that experience has been great. His strengths, his kicking game, managing the game, are things I can work on and being able to pick his brain in those areas has been great.”
And George has a special mentor on tour in his elder brother Pete.
“It is a really special time for me, him and the family,” he said. “I grew up watching him play for Glasgow and then Scotland, and it is something I’ve always wanted to do – so to get to do that alongside him is even better.
“To be here alongside each other is cool for us and its cool for the family. We don’t room together, but we spend a lot of time together, so it is good to have someone there you can go hang with and just feel relaxed around – get time away from the intensity of the rugby.”
When Pete scored a try in the quarter-final in 2015, it felt like Goerge had scored himself, he recalled.
“I was at Uni so it was a different atmosphere back then, I was watching on from a flat in Edinburgh when Pete scored,” he said.
“My phone went mental, it was like I had scored, all the texts coming through! It was pretty cool watching then but even better now.”
“I was at the game against Samoa at St James’ Park, me and dad were in the crowd. It was a pretty nerve-racking day but good to win it and get through to the quarters.”
