'Something I've had to adjust to': Darcy Graham opens up on new Scotland role

It was the third of four Scotland touchdowns in Cardiff as the visitors fought back from 20-5 down to edge it 26-23 in what was only their second win in the Welsh capital in 23 years.

The result keeps Gregor Townsend’s side in the title hunt as the championship takes a break for a couple of weeks. It will resume for the Scots on March 7 with a mouthwatering Murrayfield clash against France who lead the way, four points clear of second-placed Scotland.

Graham’s inspired score at the Principality Stadium elevated him back to the top of the all-time Scotland men’s try-scoring charts. He is now on 35 and holds the record jointly with his Edinburgh team-mate Duhan van der Merwe, the man he replaced in the 55th minute in Cardiff.

Impact sub is a role Graham has had to get used to over the course of this Six Nations. The 53-cap speedster has been a first pick for Scotland for most of his career and he admitted sitting on the bench had been frustrating.

“It's been a tough couple of months,” he said. “Coming off the bench, it's hard, I'm not used to it. It's something I've had to adapt to but I've been working quite hard at training.

“The amount of opportunities have probably been limited at training because the starting boys are running, so every time I'm on the pitch I'm just trying to improve to try and get that starting jersey back.”

Graham has played only 68 minutes across Scotland’s first three championship games, against Italy, England and Wales. Both he and van der Merwe were left out at the start of the Six Nations, with on-form Glasgow Warriors pair Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie preferred on the wings. And when Dobie got injured in the Calcutta Cup, it was van der Merwe who was picked to start in Wales.

‘Steyno's been unbelievable’

“It's just something totally different and it's something I've had to adjust to,” said Graham. “We speak about those boys coming on and finishing the game and I've just adjusted to try and bring the energy. Me and George [Horne], he's been quality the last two games and again on Saturday.

“Just bring my energy off the park and onto the pitch for that last 20 minutes because it's probably something we lacked in November. It's something we've put a massive focus on.”

Graham admitted that the form of the Glasgow boys in the squad had been an eye opener. While Edinburgh have struggled this season, the Warriors have been riding high, top of the United Rugby Championship and through to the last 16 in the Champions Cup as second top seeds. The form of Steyn has been particularly impressive and the Glasgow captain was also among the Scotland try-scorers in Cardiff, a week on from his man-of-the-match performance in the win over England.

“Steyno's been unbelievable,” said Graham. “He's world class and he's just raised the bar. Especially when I came into camp, I've had to catch up. The Glasgow boys are flying and I've noticed a huge difference.

“I've had to catch up massively to the speed of the boys and I think I'm back on.”

“I'm feeling fit, I'm feeling quick, my body's feeling good, it's up there,” added Graham. “It's been frustrating at Edinburgh and it's been a good reset coming back into camp with these boys. I'd love a start and just prove what I can do in a quality team. But it's just the way Kyle's playing, he deserves every minute he's playing.”

He admitted it was particularly hard to not be starting against Wales when he had been the reserve winger against Italy and England. Townsend decided to keep Graham on the bench for the Cardiff game and brought in van der Merwe who had not been in the match-day 23 for the first two matches.

No time to sulk!

“Last week was probably the toughest but I'm just glad to still be involved in the game,” said Graham. “These wins are special. The win last week was special and Saturday was special again. I'm happy.”

He acknowledged that it was a squad game now as Scotland look to challenge and joked that there was no time to sulk.

“You don't really have much time because the team gets announced and then we're straight into training ten minutes later! You have a wee ten-minute sulk and then you're on the training park to prove why you should be there.”

“We’re back right up there. It's France at home next, which is going to be the big one. If we can topple them, it'll be massive, everybody will have lost a game by that point. Everything's on the line.

“It's not just about the starting team. It's going to take a massive squad effort. It's not even the 23 boys that were there [in Cardiff]. There's 40 boys that worked their balls off and helped us prep for this game.

“That's probably where we're at as a group. Everybody's pulling together to go out there and win at the weekend. It's not just the 23, it's 40 boys.

“There's 23 other boys disappointed, so I can't be too down on myself about sitting on the bench.”