Scotland’s Henry Pyrgos gets captain nod but still has plenty to prove before World Cup

The World Cup preparation match against Ireland is Pyrgos’s big chance to stake a claim for a place in Scotland’s final 31-man squad for the tournament in England next month.

Scotland captain Henry Pyrgos, right, and his side kick off their World Cup preparations with a Test match against Ireland. Steve Haag / Getty Images

Henry Pyrgos said on Tuesday that finding out he would captain Scotland on Saturday was the proudest moment of his life.

The scrum-half, 26, has been selected to lead Scotland as they kick off their World Cup preparations with a Test match against Ireland.

But the Glasgow Warrior knows he must prove he is not bottom of the pecking order in the battle for the No 9 jersey.

The match in Dublin is Pyrgos’s big chance to stake a claim for a place in Scotland’s final 31-man squad for the tournament in England next month.

Greig Laidlaw not only held the scrum-half slot during this year’s Six Nations but also captained the side.

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His former Edinburgh understudy Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, meanwhile, has blossomed since Laidlaw moved to Gloucester last summer and was named the Pro12’s Young Player of the Year.

Pyrgos did help his Warriors team to the Pro12 title but said that his half-back rivals are in the driving seat.

“I won the Pro12 but I wasn’t there with Scotland,” Pyrgos said. “However, I was happy with the way I finished the season. It was an amazing experience with Glasgow and that has put all the Glasgow guys in a good position, I think.

“But ultimately we are all starting from scratch again now.

“The competition in training is pretty fierce and I’m just lucky to be involved. Now I’ve got the opportunity to play this weekend, do well and put down the first marker.

“Vern (Cotter) has already spelled out that every jersey, from one to 15, is still up for grabs. He wants to see people improve in training and in games. If you do that, you are putting yourself in a great position to get a shirt at the World Cup.”

Pyrgos has captained his club side on three previous occasions and said he can handle the responsibility of walking the national team out at the Aviva Stadium.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be in this situation, but finding out about this is the proudest day of my life.

“I know my family are thrilled, too, but I want to now justify it by going out and putting on a good performance.

“As a scrum-half, you have quite a big influence in the way the team plays in both defence and attack. That’s why you see a few nines getting that chance to be captain, you are always in a position where you are making decisions and communicating with the squad.”

Scotland, who will also warm up for their Pool B opener, against Japan on September 23 with home-and-away clashes with Italy and a trip to Paris to face France, will return to action this weekend five months after ending a miserable Six Nations campaign with a 41-10 thumping from title winners Ireland.

“We’ve spoken a little bit about that as a squad. It wasn’t the way we wanted to finish the Six Nations,” Pyrgos said.

“Ireland, though, are a quality team and we need to go out this weekend, focus on our own roles and try to put it together for a good performance before putting them under pressure.”

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