Milestone not in mind for Gray
8 Mar 2019Scotland lock Jonny Gray and wing Tommy Seymour will earn their 50th Test cap when they take to the field to face Wales at BT Murrayfield tomorrow in the Guinness Six Nations.
The pair made their debuts against South Africa in 2013, with Seymour facing the Springboks in Nelspruit in the Summer Tests and Gray that autumn at BT Murrayfield.
Gray admitted he had never dreamed of playing such a prominent part in the national set-up.
“To be here is such a special feeling and [to get 50 caps] is something I never thought I’d do when I was younger. I feel very lucky but it’s not and never has been about me,” he said.
Saturday’s Test comes five days before Gray’s 25th birthday, just short of recent record-breaker Stuart Hogg, who reached the 50-mark aged 24 and 233 days in 2017.
Gray will, however, improve on the time taken by previous record-holder and brother, Richie Gray, who set a then record for the youngest player with 50 Scotland caps, aged 26, against South Africa in 2015.
Not one to celebrate his own achievements – or indeed revel in surpassing that of his sibling – Jonny’s attention was fixed firmly on this weekend’s return to BT Murrayfield and the team’s efforts to bounce back from the disappointed of defeat to France in Paris.
Gray said: “When you look at Wales, they’re absolutely flying, they’re on fantastic form. We know it’s going to be a huge challenge on Saturday.
“We’ve been honest, brutally honest. It’s [the game] was a tough to watch but the best thing to do is get back into training.
“The coaches and the players giving feedback has been great. It’s not always nice to take but if we want to win and make our country proud then we have to do that.”
