Richie Vernon’s transformation is complete and he is now officially an international class outside centre – or he would not be first choice there for Glasgow Warriors’ biggest game of the season.
The 27-year-old from Dundee has been capped 20 times for Scotland in the back row but although he’s actually the most experienced player at open-side available to Gregor Townsend he’s facing up to the famous Stade Toulousain backline in the crucial European Rugby Champions Cup clash at Scotstoun.
Vernon is one of three changes to the Warriors side that went down 19-11 in France on Sunday for the return match. Ryan Wilson continues in place of the injured Chris Fusaro although Rob Harley will wear 7 and Tim Swinson starts in place of Leone Nakarawa.
However it’s Vernon’s selection ahead not only of Peter Horne but also Sean Lamont the 13 in Scotland’s last test against Tonga that will raise most eyebrows. The former High School of Dundee pupil only made the switch from the back row just over a year ago and first played in the backs in January of this year.
The project of using Vernon’s exceptional speed allied to his power in the open spaces has been a careful one, with head coach Townsend and defence coach Matt Taylor taking the player for many one-on-one analysis debriefs on his performances.
Clearly, they now think he is ready for the biggest stage the club has faced this season, perhaps their biggest game ever in Europe.
“It’s an opportunity he’s earned,” said the head coach. “He’s coming in on the back of his last two performances against the Dragons and as a replacement on Sunday, so it’s a selection reflected on form.
“We’ve felt he’s been developing well at 13 since last year, he played during the 6 Nations and scored two tries away to Leinster, and that was maybe the breakthrough.
“He just hasn’t had a run of games because of an injury and the competition for places we have at the position with Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar and Sean Lamont.
“It is great to have Sean there and he could win his 50th European cap this week, so it is fantastic. He is fired up and wants to play well, and we see him covering winger at the weekend with Peter Horne also being on the bench.”
Vernon’s long term goal when making the switch was to play for Scotland in the position, and he feels he’s on track.
“Through the whole thing I have had a lot of assistance,” he said. “Early on I would go through my whole game with Matt Taylor on defence and Gregor on the attack side.
“They realised when I made the transition I would need a lot of support to see my way through it and the more I could chat with them, the more it improved my game.
“I feel more and more comfortable every game I play and now I feel like a 13, I feel comfortable out there against top quality opposition like this.
“The coaches obviously have faith in me to put me in against two top quality centres like Fickou and David. It’s a huge opportunity for me and I am looking forward to it.”
Ironically, with Fusaro out long-term and back-up open-side Tyrone Holmes out with a calf injury, Vernon has the most experience of anyone in the team of the key position for the breakdown area where Toulouse were dominant on Sunday.
“We have our best available back row on the field,” continued Townsend, who must also do without Scotland No 8 Adam Ashe until the New Year. “Rob (Harley) did well there on Sunday, he has been in outstanding form and his workrate has been superb.
“Toulouse have picked two opensides, and Dusautoir and Nyanga are both outstanding players. Dusautoir is one of the best ever to play the game so we know how good we have to be there.”
Townsend thought Toulouse produced their best performance of the season to beat his team last weekend.
“31 offloads is unreal, they went into that game wanting to play rugby, it will be interesting to see what game they come with,” he added.
“It’s in their DNA they want to run, to play, to react to any space a defence might give. But maybe they will look to play a different game, a forward-based game with more kicking. We will have a clearer picture in the first 20 minutes.”
Swinson comes into the second row to add a little more directness to the Warriors’ play while Nakarawa is available as an impact player off a bench that is evenly split between forwards and backs meaning Vernon could be called on for his old shift if injuries to forwards take effect.
Euan Murray has recovered from the injury he sustained against the All Blacks for Scotland but will start on the bench.
Glasgow: Stuart Hogg; Sean Maitland, Richie Vernon, Alex Dunbar, Tommy Seymour; Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos; Ryan Grant, Pat MacArthur, Jon Welsh; Tim Swinson, Jonny Gray; Ryan Wilson, Rob Harley, Josh Strauss (capt).
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid, Euan Murray, Leone Nakarawa, Niko Matawalu, Duncan Weir, Peter Horne, Sean Lamont.