'Fitter, stronger, refreshed' - the Scotland player being backed for a Lions recall

The 31-year-old has been given the nod ahead of Glasgow Warriors pair George Horne and Jamie Dobie for Saturday’s game at Murrayfield in what is a very experienced XV.

Townsend described Price as the form scrum-half in the country and believes he is fitter and stronger than he was last season. His last start for Scotland came in the final group match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and his only action during this year’s Six Nations was an appearance off the bench in the defeat by Italy in Rome.

Price moved from Glasgow to Edinburgh last year after falling down the pecking order at Scotstoun and also found himself on the periphery of the national side as Ben White emerged as Scotland’s first-choice scrum-half. Toulon’s White is not available for the Fiji game because it takes place outside the official Test window, meaning Townsend is unable to select players from France and England, but the Scotland coach stressed that Price has been picked “on merit”.

“He’s in form,” said Townsend. “I think he looked really refreshed after having a summer off. We’ve seen that with his performances. His last one [for Edinburgh] against Cardiff was excellent, back to his best form.”

Sean Everitt, his coach at Edinburgh, said after the win over Cardiff that Price had “worked incredibly hard” in the off-season. “He has changed the shape of his body, he has lost weight and he is fitter than he has ever been,” Everitt said. Townsend agreed.

“I’m glad Sean mentioned that,” said the Scotland coach. “We saw the same thing: a fitter, stronger, refreshed Ali who’s confident with his running game. Confident in defence but also delivering those basics, fundamentals to allow others to play.

“Competition will bring the best out of George, Jamie and Ben, I'm sure. It’s brought the best out of Ali since he lost his position last year. And now he's got the opportunity to make the most of this start he'll get this weekend.”

Asked if he felt it was possible that Price could get back to the level he was at in 2021 when he was selected by the Lions for the tour of South Africa and played in all three Tests against the Springboks, Townsend said: “Yes, of course it is. I think that might be the individual ambition of a number of our players this year.

“Ali played all three Test matches, started two of them. And he's really started the season in great form. So he’s a very, very good passer. His kicking game has always been good and it was excellent on that Lions tour. So those are two fundamentals of playing nine. The other aspects are making sure you get to the breakdown and you get the ball away quickly and you contribute defensively. And he’s done that really well this season.

“So right now he’s the scrum half that we feel is in the best form and can help us win at the weekend. And the opportunity is his to go and grab and continue to play and start for us over the next few weeks.”

Dobie has been named on the bench for the Fiji game which means there is no place in the match-day 23 for Horne who was involved in all five of Scotland’s Six Nations games last season, was Glasgow’s first-choice scrum-half as they won the United Rugby Championship and then started against USA and Uruguay on Scotland’s summer tour.

“Of course he’s unlucky,” added Townsend. “Whoever missed out is unlucky. George knows what he has to work on. He obviously got the opportunities in the summer, got the opportunities in Six Nations, and I’m sure he’ll work to get those opportunities again.”