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Opinion
In this weekend’s Super Rugby AU classic between the ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds in Canberra, Hunter Paisami and Jordan Petaia created a bit of magic in the 78th minute with Petaia’s miraculous behind-the-post grounding of Paisami’s all-or-nothing grubber kick.
However, the play by the Reds’ talented centre pairing, which set up James O’Connor to make the winning conversion, wouldn’t have happened had it not been for another crucial play.
Blindside flanker and lineout caller Angus Scott-Young called the throw from hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa to himself and secured the ball in a maul, setting up the Reds for their winning play.
Ironically, at the same time in the previous encounter in the Super Rugby AU 2020 grand final, it was a lost lineout that lost the Reds the game.
The Reds’ lineout success rate has improved from 80 per cent in 2020 and the first game of 2021 to 93 per cent in each of the Reds’ last two games. Of course, this is a testament to the entire Reds pack, but the fact is that the change occurred when Scott-Young was made lineout caller.
Competently running the lineout is a vital role in a rugby team, which only gets noticed when something goes wrong.
It exemplifies Scott-Young’s role in the Reds. A player like Scott-Young lays the platform for the backs by maintaining consistently high standards throughout the match.
It is harder to stand out than the likes of Paisami and Petaia, so his game deserves a closer review.
Scott-Young can play four positions including lock, number eight and blindside flanker. Blindside is his best and in 2021 he has had the opportunity to display his abilities there for the first three games.
What makes him eminently suitable for the position are his 194-centimetre and 108-kilogram frame, the ability to play 80 minutes at a high work rate, uniformly excellent technique, excellent focus and awareness, good communication and leadership skills, and a love of contact.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Regarding contact, Scott-Young can hit hard enough to knock any opponent backwards, but what stands out is his tenacity in winning any contest in attack or defence once contact is made.
This was demonstrated in the 24th minute of the match. The Brumbies were in possession just inside the Reds’ half, from where they were dangerous all night if they won quick ball. Scott-Young hit the breakdown at the same time as Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga’a, with Brumbies tighthead prop Tom Ross joining straight afterwards.
Despite the Brumbies’ front rowers combining to more than twice his weight and both being 18 centimetres shorter than him, Scott-Young burrowed his way underneath them while staying on his feet, and slowed the ball down long enough for the Reds to reset their defence. It was a critical play, which stopped the Brumbies in their tracks.
Scott-Young has always been rated for his defence, winning the Reds’ defensive player of the year award in 2019. It was how often he prevented tries by holding up players on the Reds own try line which made him stand out in 2020, so it bought a smile to my face in the first match of the season when in front of my eyes at Suncorp he stopped Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon from scoring a sneaky one from close to the Reds’ line.
For a 194-centimetre blindside flanker to have the awareness and agility to drop and catch a fast halfback like Gordon was very impressive, and it would have been a critical play in a tighter match.
In 2021, though, what stands out is how much more Scott-Young is contributing in attack, offering himself up for carries, making metres in traffic and offloading to keep the ball alive when appropriate.
That opponents consider him a handful was demonstrated in the lead-up to Suliasi Vunivalu’s first Super Rugby try. At one minute and 20 seconds on these highlights, Scott-Young runs a line, offering himself up to James O’Connor, who opts to pass out the back to Filipo Daugunu.
The effect of Scott-Young’s dummy run was to fix both Tom Cusack and Rob Valentini on him, bunching the Brumbies’ defence to allow the try to be scored.
Just like the final lineout, it was another play by Angus Scott-Young, which allowed the backs to shine.
There is no capped Wallaby in Australia with the complete skill set at six and versatility of Angus Scott-Young, so hopefully Wallabies coach Dave Rennie sees him as an obvious inclusion.
Scott-Young is only 23 and will get even better, so hopefully he will be nurtured at a national level and give Australian rugby the decade of service that he is capable of.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.