Townsend backs 'Test match animal' Jordan to fill Russell's fly-half role against Argentina

Tom Jordan will start at fly-half for Scotland in their inaugural Nations Championship match against Argentina in Cordoba on Saturday, with head coach Gregor Townsend describing the Bristol back as a “Test match animal” capable of filling the void left by the injured Finn Russell.

Russell has not been named in the matchday squad as he recovers from a calf injury, though Townsend said the Edinburgh playmaker hopes to be fit for next week’s clash against world champions South Africa in Pretoria. In his absence, Jordan — set to win his 18th senior cap — gets the nod at ten, with Saracens’ Fergus Burke named on the bench.

“Tom’s played all season really at 10 when AJ MacGinty picked up an injury,” Townsend said. “He’s a Test match animal, like he brings so much energy and is able to bring his own game when he plays for Scotland. So we’re looking forward to seeing him start.”

Jordan, 27, stepped into the Bristol number ten role after MacGinty ruptured his Achilles on the opening day of the Gallagher Premiership season and has also featured at full-back and centre for Scotland. Townsend was equally enthusiastic about Burke, calling him “probably the form 10 in England over the last two months of the season” and expecting him to make an impact from the bench.

Elsewhere in the pack, Perpignan lock Jonny Gray returns to the starting XV after missing the Six Nations, partnering Scott Cummings, who is set to win his 50th cap. Prop Pierre Schoeman will also reach that milestone on Saturday.

“It’s great for him to be back in the squad,” Townsend said of Gray. “Since his move to Perpignan, he’s played very well so his form’s been rewarded with this opportunity.”

Townsend also revisited the “painful lessons” of Scotland’s last meeting with Argentina in November, when they surrendered a 21-0 lead at Murrayfield to lose 33-24. The coach acknowledged his side must hit the ground running, noting their last outing was a 43-21 Six Nations defeat to Ireland in Dublin.

“We’ve got a lot of evidence in the Six Nations and November that when we get our game in place in attack and defence, we can cause problems to any team in world rugby,” he said. “I believe that our squad now is much deeper and we use that bench to continue what the starters are doing or actually raise the energy.”