Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2131841/scotland-might-scare-few-teams-six-nations-says-gair-currie
Rugby/ Fifteens

Scotland ‘might scare a few teams’ in the Six Nations, says Gair Currie as HKCC’s tough Premiership season rolls on

The 22-year-old is busy in the centre as the Cricketers show plenty of fight in 28-17 loss to Tigers

HKCC's Gair Currie braces for contact in the Hong Kong Premiership. Photos: HKRU

His side have had a tough season in the Old Mutual International Men’s Premiership, but Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC centre Gair Currie thinks it might be a different story for Scotland in the Six Nations.

Speaking after his side went down 28-17 to the Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers on Thursday night, Currie gives the Scots an outside chance in the competition, which begins with Scotland taking on Wales on Saturday.

“I’m quietly hopeful, I think we might scare a few teams,” said Currie, who is from Edinburgh. “We’ve got England at home so I’m hoping we turn them over for the first time in a while.

“We’ll go under the radar hopefully, Ireland are the favourites. We’ll turn over Italy and maybe France.”

Tigers' Jamie Chipman surveys his options.
Tigers' Jamie Chipman surveys his options.

Currie himself was on the fringes of the Scotland set-up as a junior, training with the wider under-18 and under-20 squads before playing in the National League One while studying at Loughborough University.

He has just started work at KPMG and has seen enough in his short time in Hong Kong to think he’ll hang around.

“At least a few years, maybe get the qualification,” Currie said. “Obviously the performances haven’t been great but off field it’s a great bunch of guys. Hong Kong is a pretty tight-knit league, everyone is mates here and all the teams are very welcoming.”

The 22-year-old has been a shining light for HKCC in a season that has yielded only one win and he says the group remain positive.

Jack Metters creates for HKCC.
Jack Metters creates for HKCC.

“We are getting better each week and trying to build towards the quarter-finals,” he said. “Our season has been pretty abysmal but it means nothing when we get to knockout.

“If we just keep improving our performances each week, we have got Kowloon next week and it is a straight shoot-out in quarter-final, so who knows.”

Tigers edged a step closer to taking out the league championship with their victory, which was built on two blistering second-half tries to scrum half Josh Walden.

Joe Ellyatt feels the heat for Tigers in their win over HKCC.
Joe Ellyatt feels the heat for Tigers in their win over HKCC.

The New Zealander split the game open after Tigers led by only two points at the break, with Braam Gerber and Lawrence Miller also crossing for the victors.

Jack Metters was the star for the Cricketers, slotting four penalties and delivering the kick that set up Seb Brien for HKCC’s only try.

Elsewhere, Bloomberg HK Scottish upset Natixis HKFC 17-16, while Societe Generale Valley took down Kowloon 35-33 in a thriller.