Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is ‘angry and disappointed’ by lock Jonny Gray’s decision to make himself unavailable to this year’s November Internationals.
“I’m angry, disappointed because we want players to experience more than just club rugby if they’ve deserved it,” The Scotland boss said.
“Maybe from Bordeaux’s side, this is a player who has been injured, then played a lot of rugby, and could do it with a rest.
“But from our side it’s, did he need to play all those games in a row? Jonny would have gone well in our squad, but it’s now a chance for someone else.”
Focusing on the giant Bordeaux second row’s injury history, Townsend said,”He’s come back from a really tough injury and missed almost 18 months.”
Clearly disgruntled by the player’s decision to pick his club over his country, Townsend discussed Gray’s Top 14 season thus far.
“But he’s played every single game for Bordeaux this season and played well – in big games.
“La Rochelle at the weekend, Toulouse a couple of weeks before. He would have been in really the mix for not just our squad but our matchday 23.
“So it’s disappointing both Bordeaux and Jonny think the best thing for him is to rest after two months of rugby – given he’s had time off.”
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