Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I wasn't aware. I knew there was something going on'

Scotland's Chris Harris scores his team's fifth try in their Six Nations win over Italy (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Ask Chris Harris for a reaction to fellow centre Huw Jones being ruled of the rest of Scotland’s Six Nations campaign and it’s breaking news to him.

ADVERTISEMENT

He’d been training with Newcastle on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday’s Premiership trip to Bath and didn’t know the Scottish Rugby Union revealed in a lunchtime press release that the Glasgow midfielder had sustained knee ligament damage in the defeat to Ireland and would miss the remaining fixtures against France, Wales and England.

A try-scorer off the bench in the opening round win over Italy, Harris was deemed surplus to requirement against the Irish. Sean Maitland’s return to the starting line-up meant Blair Kinghorn, the hat-trick scorer versus the Azzurri who lost his spot, would take the No23 shirt from Harris.

However, with Jones now joining full-back Stuart Hogg in casualty ahead of Saturday week’s third round match against France and Kinghorn set to potentially step in at No15, the chances of Harris winning his eighth Test cap in Paris have hugely risen.

“I wasn’t aware (Jones was ruled out),” said Harris on Thursday afternoon. “I knew there was something going on. I knew he picked up a knock of some sorts, but I wasn’t aware of the situation. It’s not for me to think about it too much to be honest.

“There is always the opportunity there. It’s not just an opportunity for me, but for the other boys in there that are competing for that jersey. But ultimately you have got to go and perform at the weekend for your club to put you hand up and that is what I’m wanting to do. I just need need to concentrate on this weekend.”

The 28-year-old debuted off the bench in November 2017 against Samoa. He then quickly got his first start, chosen at centre alongside Jones for last year’s Six Nations opening day defeat away to Wales.

ADVERTISEMENT

Harris admits he didn’t cope as well as he possibly could have when initially juggling international and club commitments, but he now feels he is more robust and better able to handle the pressures involved.

(Continue reading below)…

Video Spacer

“If you asked me last year I would have said I was more under pressure, but I have adapted to it now. It’s just part of the rugby career. It you’re part of international duty that is just the way it is. I have developed a lot since this time last year. I’m pretty comfortable in dealing with the situation.

“It was just the change of environment, the disappointment of not being selected for Scotland – which is still the case – but it’s just dealing with it better now.

“If you come back into the club and you’re still a bit down not being involved with Scotland, you have got to go and in a performance for Newcastle. It’s just a matter how you deal with it,” said Harris who returned to Newcastle on the Tuesday night before the Ireland match and featured in the club’s Premiership Cup defeat to Northampton on the same day as the Murrayfield Test.

ADVERTISEMENT

A greater presence in attack is what Scotland coach Gregor Townsend is looking for from Harris. “Just a consistency thing. Just get my hands in the ball a bit more. Look at my attacking side of things. The defence side kind of looks after itself. Just getting my hands on the ball a bit more. That is what I did and I managed to score a try (against Italy).

“It was just running a supporting line. Josh Strauss just popped it to me. He probably could have scored himself, but he just popped it to me. It was a pretty incredible feeling to dot down.

“I just want to play as much as I can. I have played one of the two (Six Nations games) so far and if I can keep picking up appearances that would be grand.

“But I have just got to play well and be a bit more consistent. I’ll just concentrate on that and the rest will look after itself.

“I’m always looking to improve. There is always room for improvement in my game and I try to do that as much as possible. I am very happy with where I am. I think I have played well the last couple of game. I have just got to keep that consistency and keep improving.”

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation
Search