Hutchinson ready to step from Scotland shadows

Rory Hutchison, a Premiership winner and Northampton star, has had to wait patiently as Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones locked up Scotland's midfield.

'Huwipulotu' has been a staple of Gregor Townsend's side in the past few years when fit, but with Jones injured Hutchison was finally given a chance to shine on the biggest stage against New Zealand.

It was just his 10th cap for his country at the age of 29.

Though Scotland allowed the opportunity for a first ever victory over the All Blacks to slip through their fingers, Hutchinson showed he can mix it with the very best after starting in the 13 jersey.

"There was a big build-up towards it and the occasion was amazing," Hutchinson said.

It's been a long road to get to this point. Hutchinson made his Scotland debut in 2019 and despite establishing himself as one of the best attacking centres in the Premiership, has found it difficult to win over Townsend.

Despite Tuipulotu and Jones touring with the British and Irish Lions in the summer the Northampton Saint, who had just started a Champions Cup final, was still overlooked for the initial squad for Scotland's summer tour.

An injury to Edinburgh's Matt Currie led to Hutchinson being called in just before the group departed and, determined to make the most of his opportunity, he started in the victories over New Zealand Maori and Samoa, scoring in the latter.

It gave Hutchinson the taste for more action in a Scotland jersey after years of frustration with the national team.

He was selected for some squads but not others, often travelling up to Edinburgh and training for games he was never likely to be involved in.

"Talking to quite a few of the boys who aren't based in Scotland, the exile lads, I don't think people realise it's actually really tough travelling up here on a Sunday," Hutchinson said.

"Even though it seems short flights, when you're doing it six times in a campaign there and back, it takes a toll on your body.

"You're missing out on all the prep work going back to your club. So you're literally rocking up on a Thursday, which would be my day off of my club's training day, do your team run and then you're asked to play as well as you can.

"When you're doing that every week it does take its toll and I think that's what I found.

"So for me it was like, 'how do I stop doing this and how do I really try and climb my way into the team'?"

Hutchinson has no qualms about being behind "serious talent" like Tuipulotu and Jones in the pecking order.

But with potentially another opportunity against Argentina at Murrayfield to further strengthen his Test credentials, he wants to establish himself like many of his former Scotland under-20 colleagues have.

"When you see those lads progressing it kind of gives you that motivation - I want to be doing what they're doing," he said.

"Look at someone like Zander Fagerson, mid-70s, 80 caps, that's incredible. We were in the same under-20s and played with Jamie Ritchie, Blair Kinghorn, Adam Hastings, Scott Cummings, just to name a few.

"That gives me a load of motivation when I come into camp, seeing how these boys have done well. It's not the fact that I've been left behind, but I want to have the success that they've had."