"Fergus Burke, auditioning for the part of Finn Russell's understudy"

Today at 05:01 AM

There are two things, above all others, that keep Scotland fans tossing and turning at night. Haunting every dream like Freddy Krueger.

The first, what would Scotland do without Sione Tuipulotu?

Well that nightmare has become a reality with the announcement that the shoe-in for the Lions will miss the entirety of the Six Nations.

The second is a very similar yet different sleep-paralysis inducing fear.

Trying to imagine how they would cope if Finn Russell were to, God forbid, also find himself injured.

Similar because of the extent to which Scotland’s game has become moulded around these two world leading players in their position means a drop off seems inevitable.

Different because whilst Gregor Townsend has the luxury of depth when it comes to compensating for the loss of Tuipulotu with the likes of Rory Hutchinson, Stafford McDowall and Cameron Redpath all capable of stepping up, we have yet to see that same quality from the bench at fly-half.

For the past few years Townsend has scoured Scotland and beyond to find a player who can, if only slightly, alleviate those fears.

Season upon season potential candidates raise their hands and the expectations of fans with them, only to find it cut down to size by the cold and unforgiving scythe that is international rugby.

For a while there was Adam Hastings. A player with an immense talent and technical ability that, whilst not quite the level of two time Lions tourist Russell, was the closest thing Townsend had to a like for like.

Unfortunately the 28 year old has endured an absolutely torrid time with injuries that have seen him miss almost entire seasons. After a return to Glasgow he seemed to have put those days behind him, subbing in well with Tom Jordan at ten to keep the attack ticking over.

That was until a facial injury suffered against Scarlets in December ruled the fly-half out for the beginning of the tournament.

Hardly his fault but putting yourself in Townsend's shoes, if you are planning ahead for a World Cup cycle, being almost 50/50 on a crucial part of your attack would trouble even the most gifted tinkerer.

Then, there was Ben Healy.

After some impressive shifts at club level before another Hastings injury opened the door for his selection in 2023, his accuracy from the tee with a MOTM performance in a World Cup warm-up to boot made it look as though Scotland pulled a gem from under Ireland's noses.

Yet Healy has found himself increasing marginalised from the understudy role with each passing squad.

Despite featuring on the bench three times in the opening rounds of the 2024 Six Nations, he managed just three minutes of game time before not making the squad for the final two rounds.

Numbers that don't indicate a lot of confidence from the Head Coach.

One solid if unspectacular outing in the summer tour to America later and Healy has missed out on this year's squad entirely.

(Healy has seen his role in the squad diminish in recent months)

His Edinburgh teammate and rival for the number 10 shirt, Ross Thomson, similarly failed to set the world alight during the tour that saw the side taken on Canada, the USA, Chile and Uruguay.

Having been given his debut against Tonga in 2021, the 6 caps since are perhaps indicative of his chances of filling Russell's boots.

At times the lack of options forced Townsend to experiment with the position. Not trusting Thomson with the position during the 2022 tour to Argentina, the head coach turned to then Edinburgh poster boy and full-back Blair Kinghorn to impress in lieu of Russell on the international stage.

Unfortunately the tour only served to highlight Scotland's dependancy on the Bath man, falling to 2-1 series defeat with Kinghorn never looking a comfortable fit marshalling the attack.

Just two years on Scotland's depth in the position looks far healthier. Tom Jordan's form at Glasgow at 10 had put many minds to rest but it was at full-back that Jordan truly came to life.

One of the bright sparks in a otherwise disappointing loss to South Africa, there is an argument to be made that Townsend will be best served keeping him competing for the 15 shirt with Kinghorn and Harry Paterson rather than have him fill in as general with a tired mind and body when Russell comes off.

Beyond Jordan's obvious talent, it is his positional flexibility that makes him such a valued player to the Scotland squad.

In Burke, Scotland have a player who can not only do both but has done so for one of rugby's greatest ever sides.

With the experience of playing for the Crusaders towards the tail end of its dynastic monopoly over Super Rugby, Burke was tasked with covering full-back and playing understudy to one Richie Mo'unga in three title winning seasons before Mo'unga made his way to Japan.

When the starting fly-half berth was his to nail down, Burke was denied by an achilles injury as the Crusaders faded in the 2024 season.

But having earned his stripes with the Crusaders, Canterbury, the New Zealand under 20s and the Barbarians, the new kilted Kiwi is having to fill a pair of Owen Farrell shaped boots at Saracens.

The jump from the Southern to Northern Hemisphere is no cakewalk even for the most talented players, as Lima Sopoaga's early days at Wasps will attest but Burke has done a fine job of keeping Saracens in the hunt for Gallagher Premiership title.

A cool, calm and collected head rather than the free flowing, off the cuff talent of Russell, Burke represents a tactical alternative that could prove crucial when Scotland need to close out games.

If there are any shortcomings in his game, it is that Burke has to yet to show he has the 'one man army' ability to win games that the likes of Russell and the now retired Johnny Sexton possessed.

It is early days yet for the 25 year old but having chosen Scotland despite being eligible for both New Zealand and England, the door remains wide open for Burke to earn himself a place on the bench with a view to starting in the Pacific tour should Russell be selected for the Lions tour.

All he has to do now is help ensure Townsend and the Scotland faithful can finally lay to ghosts of Russell anxiety to rest and finally get a good night's sleep.

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