Ryan Wilson says the Scotland coaching team will be watching this weekend’s Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures closely.
Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh kick off their respective European rugby campaigns for the 2026/27 season this weekend.
Franco Smith’s side are in Salford to take on Sale Sharks on Saturday as the Investec Champions Cup gets underway, while the capital club welcome Toulon to the Hive on Friday night for their EPCR Challenge Cup opener. Both sides will be looking to carry on their impressive starts to the URC season, with Sean Everitt’s side top of the table and Warriors in second.
The fact that Gregor Townsend will soon name his Scotland squad for the upcoming Nations Championship Test matches in another added incentive for the players chasing international honours to give a good account of themselves. With capped and uncapped Scots representing all four clubs in the Glasgow and Edinburgh games, it’s a certainty that the national team coaching staff will have an extra close eye on proceedings.
“Jamie Dobie is untouchable, he’s a special player” - Wilson hopes Warriors centurion will get more minutes at scrum-half
Ryan Wilson, who earned 50 caps for his country as a player, will once again be on TV duties at the CorpAcq Stadium this weekend. That match will see scrum-half Gus Warr and winger Arron Reed, two players very much on the peripheries of the Scotland squad, get the chance to prove themselves against national team regulars like George Horne and Jamie Dobie.
“I think when you come up against Glasgow and Edinburgh, you know that the majority of Scotland fans will be Glasgow and Edinburgh supporters, so they'll be watching this,” explained Wilson. “You have a huge game against Glasgow Warriors, whether at nine or on the wing, against your opposite man that's potentially got your shirt already.
“These guys will look at it as a great opportunity. Obviously, the Scotland coaches will be across all the games throughout and they'll be watching these guys already and they'll know a lot more about them than any of us.
“But you just look at George Horne and Jamie Dobie at the moment, they’re on another level, especially Dobie. I was really gutted for him when Kyle Rowe pulled out at the weekend and he then got shifted back to the wing.
“I know he wants to play nine, I know he prefers getting more involved. Jamie Dobie is untouchable, I want to see him get a bit more time in the nine jersey because having someone that adaptable and able to play across the back line like he does in the way that he does, for the size of the man, he's a special player.”
When it comes to scrum-half, the main man for Scotland in recent years has been Ben White, who could very well feature for Toulon on Friday night. That fixture could provide an opportunity for yet another nine in Edinburgh’s Hector Patterson to make a statement.
“He [Patterson] has been brilliant,” said Wilson. “He's been outstanding for them.
“I think Toulon will probably get a rocket up their arse this week when they're coming over. They've lost four out of their first six games in the Top 14 this season so there'll be a bit of pressure on them to come over to Edinburgh and Ben White will certainly be someone that they want to do well.
“He's a chirpy bloke, he likes to give it to the opposition, so he'll need to make sure he starts well. But again, a class player, he will be wanting to hit the ground running this weekend because there's a fair bit of pressure on his heels.”
“I can’t see why it wouldn’t be a great thing” - should Jake Dalziel get Scotland call up for Nations Championship?
In terms of depth in other positions, Wilson has been hugely impressed with the contributions of young Glasgow hooker Seb Stephen. The 21-year-old made his Scotland debut against Fiji in the summer and is beginning to make a real contribution for Warriors.
“I think a lot of people will be looking at Seb Stephen,” added Wilson. “He is your next person in line for the Scotland jersey at number two but he's on the bench every weekend. I think a lot of people will go, why is he not starting? Because he just brings such an impact, but Gregor Hiddleston's been incredible, especially his line-out ability.
“I think Franco Smith knows himself this guy's got what it takes. Bring him on, a bit of impact, and also want to save him and bring him in at the pace that probably requires it. So, he'll balance the squad up nicely.”
It’s likely that many of the big name Scotland stars will feature across the Champions and Challenge Cup fixtures this weekend. However, in terms of the next generation of national team talent, there could be another run out for under 20s vice captain Jake Dalziel.
The 18-year-old became Newcastle Red Bulls’ youngest ever player when he made his competitive debut in their match against Exeter Chiefs last weekend. Wilson believes the Melrose native is the man who will eventually succeed Finn Russell in the Scotland ten jersey when the Bath fly-half calls time on his international career.
Asked if he could potentially be named in the squad next week, Wilson answered: “I genuinely have no idea whether they will, but I can't see why it wouldn't be a great thing just to bring him into camp. You see a lot of these guys get brought in, even if they're on the periphery and not fully involved.
“From what I've seen with him at under-20s, the way that he controls things, and then getting his opportunity there and just not looking out of place whatsoever, I think it would be a great call for him to get the experience, get him in young. To get him learning already off the likes of Finn, it will only do him good.”
Get our rugby newsletter by clicking here