The 26-year-old Glasgow scrum-half comes into this weekend’s test match against Ireland with only 13 international caps to his name, 11 of which were as a substitute. He is set to make just his third start this Saturday, yet he has been named as skipper. He could be forgiven for feeling nervous — after all, alongside him in the squad for the trip to Dublin are seasoned veterans Ryan Grant, Sean Lamont, and John Barclay, among others. Will he have the respect within the dressing room that is vital for a leadership role?
Vern Cotter certainly thinks so. Pyrgos has taken it all in stride, explaining over the last week how he “didn’t expect to captain Scotland at his age” but “wasn’t surprised.” Upon receiving the news, he told the Daily Record “it was the best day of my life.”
He has vast experience already in his fledgling rugby career. His education and upbringing in Dorset in the south of England, and at the rugby hotbed of Loughborough University, can both help to explain his self-confidence and ability, while his rugby talent was fine-tuned in Wanganui, New Zealand, where he was selected in a youth provincial side on a short stay in the area.
In 2010, Pyrgos joined Glasgow Warriors and performed a limited role in their lowly 11th place finish in the Magners League. Five years later, he was at the heart of the Guinness Pro12 conquering Glasgow side. In the final against Munster — a day which surely must now be the second best of his life — he bagged an important try to send the Warriors on their way to an historic first professional trophy for a Scottish club.
He made his Scotland debut in 2012 as a substitute for Mike Blair, and earned his first start that same year in a disappointing defeat to Tonga. Due to injury, he missed the 2015 Six Nations; a campaign in which fellow scrum-half Greig Laidlaw was chosen as full-time Scotland captain. In the forthcoming World Cup, he surely can expect no more than a bench spot at best, but even for that he faces stiff competition from 22-year-old Edinburgh flyer, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne.
That makes this Saturday even more important for Pyrgos on an individual level, as well as for the team. He has been granted a chance to prove himself ahead of Hidalgo-Clyne and has to play very well, whilst also demonstrating his leadership strengths.
He knows the enormity of the battle at hand — Ireland come into this game in devastating form after they dished out an ice cold portion of revenge against Wales. Scotland, however, come into August off the back of a demoralising Six Nations whitewash. Cotter will be looking for a strong team performance rather than a positive result, but for Pyrgos, both will be the benchmark.
These so-called friendlies are crucial to build momentum, gel combinations, and experiment with new tactics in preparation for the showpiece in September, and as scrum-half and skipper, Pyrgos has a vital role in getting his side’s summer off to an electric start.
The Scots’ squad to face Ireland is as follows, with the starting line-up being announced on Thursday:
Backs: Dougie Fife, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Peter Horne, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont, Henry Pyrgos (captain), Tommy Seymour, Greig Tonks, Richie Vernon, Tim Visser, Duncan Weir.
Forwards: John Barclay, Hugh Blake, Fraser Brown, Blair Cowan, Mike Cusack, David Denton, Allan Dell, Grant Gilchrist, Ryan Grant, Jim Hamilton, Rob Harley, Stuart McInally, Gordon Reid, Jon Welsh.
