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Revitalised Adam Hastings is hoping he has executed sufficient to be named within the Scotland 23 for Sunday’s showdown with world champions South Africa.
After forcing his manner again into Gregor Townsend’s plans for the summer season tour of the Americas following 18 months of harm troubles that pushed him to the periphery of the squad, the Glasgow stand-off loved his first Murrayfield outing in two years when he began Saturday’s 57-17 victory over Fiji.
With Finn Russell established as Scotland’s first-choice fly-half, Hastings has managed to leap again forward of Edinburgh’s Ben Healy, who didn’t make the squad for the Autumn Nations Collection, within the pecking order though he has renewed competitors from his versatile Glasgow colleague Tom Jordan, who made his debut off the bench.
Tub talisman Russell, who was unavailable on Saturday because the match occurred outdoors the worldwide window, is ready to be again within the quantity 10 jersey in opposition to the formidable Boks on the weekend, however Hastings hopes his promising show in opposition to Fiji can assist him safe a spot within the matchday squad.
“Yeah, I hope so,” he stated. “You wish to play each week, so fingers crossed. However I do know the depth of 10 is a number of the greatest it’s ever been for the time being. TJ got here off the bench on Saturday and I assumed he was good at 15. He was completely magnificent on his debut.”
Hastings made his personal debut in opposition to Canada in the summertime of 2018 and has gone on to win 31 caps. Saturday’s match was simply his fifteenth as a starter, nevertheless, as he has usually been restricted to the position of understudy on account of Russell’s kind and standing.
Requested what it was prefer to compete for a begin in opposition to one of many biggest gamers Scotland has produced, Hastings stated: “Yeah, clearly very onerous. However look, it’s nearly controlling what you may management. Whenever you get given a chance, try to take it.”
Hastings loved being again on the Murrayfield turf on Saturday for the primary time because the Fiji final visited Edinburgh in November 2022.
“It was wonderful,” he stated. “I used to be considering to myself when the workforce was named how lengthy it had been, and it was two years. It had simply been two years of graft, and I didn’t know when it would come once more. I used to be simply thrilled to play once more and ecstatic with the outcome.
“I used to be proud of my efficiency and I assumed the workforce was good. We executed issues properly.”
Hastings is aware of Scotland face a “large” step up in opposition on Sunday as they face a South Africa facet who defeated them 18-3 in Marseille 14 months in the past on their strategy to a second successive World Cup triumph.
“We’ve obtained a whole lot of perception on this group and what we will do,” stated the previous Gloucester fly-half.
“We’ve had good ends in huge video games, however I feel you’ve obtained to pay respect to South Africa, the double world champs. They’re enjoying actually good things for the time being, so it’ll be a step up.”