Back row Josh Bayliss is relishing the prospect of playing against his Bath Rugby team-mate Santi Carreras on the international stage this autumn.
Josh Bayliss is one of two Bath Rugby players who have been called into the Scotland squad for the autumn international matches | Photo © Bath Rugby
Today (Tuesday 21st October) Bayliss was named in Scotland’s 45-man squad for their Quilter Nations Series matches against New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and the USA at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in Edinburgh next month.
And he could end up turning out against the Blue, Black & White’s new full-back/fly-half/wing Carreras, who has been a mainstay of the Argentina side in recent years.
At Bath’s pre-Gallagher PREM Round 5 press conference today, Bayliss said: “The autumn internationals for me are pretty special. That’s when I made my debut for Scotland, against Australia [in November 2021].
“Some of the teams you get to play against, the players you get to play against, and playing at home…
“Really looking forward to it.
“[My debut] was a very special day for myself and my family. A lot’s happened between then and now, but it’s still just as special a memory.
“[Playing New Zealand on Saturday 8th November], that’s a great opportunity for Scotland, for the team. I think two or three years ago we played well, had some chances, but couldn’t quite convert. This year, hopefully we go one better and get a result.
“[Facing Carreras] would be pretty cool. [The autumn internationals are] a chance to play against some of your team-mates, especially here we’ve got guys playing for lots of different nations.
“Any involvement at international level, I know how much work it takes to get there.
“So nothing’s given and I’m just really focusing on getting into camp and doing all I can to put my name forward. But before that we’ve got a big week coming up here [against Bristol Bears at The Rec in PREM Round 5 on Saturday 25th October].”
Bath fly-half Finn Russell has also been named in the Scotland squad.
And Blue, Black & White centre Louie Hennessey and prop Archie Griffin are in the Wales squad, also announced today, for Quilter Nations Series matches against South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Japan at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
Bath currently have seven players – Guy Pepper, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill, Henry Arundell, Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh and Ben Spencer – away on an England training camp in advance of Quilter Nations Series fixtures against Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Fiji at the Allianz Stadium, London.
Johann van Graan, Bath’s head of rugby, said: “Louie, amazing day for him. He’s come through our system and I think he’s used his chances very, very well. A great example of someone working very hard, taking his opportunities.
“I remember he and Sam Harris made their debuts a few years ago against Northampton and he made some good appearances last year in the Premiership, was very good in the PREM Cup and I thought he was really good on Saturday against Leicester. It’s great that so many guys get international opportunities.
“The nice thing about the autumn is all the southern hemisphere teams are up here, some friends across all the different nations, so loads of people to go and say hi to, to learn from, and specifically go and watch the rugby with my family.”
Van Graan admitted that having seven of his players away with England this week is disruptive.
He said: “Yes [it is disruptive] but I’d much rather have as many players play for England as possible.
“England have been very clear at the start of the season, some teams will be more disrupted than others, some teams have got one player [selected], we’ve got seven.
“The English players know that they’ve got to fit straight back in on Thursday [training with Bath].
“The Australia-England Test match [at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday 1st November] was added late and that’s the reason for the camp and we understand those reasons.
“What we can control is what we did yesterday and today and we’re looking forward to seeing our lads on Thursday, one training session and then we go again. Nothing really fazes us.”
Missing out on an international call-up this time around is Bath centre Cameron Redpath, who made his Scotland debut in 2021.
Bayliss said: “He’s been brilliant over the last few seasons. He’s been outstanding for us and for Scotland as well.
“He’s unlucky to miss out, but he’s the ultimate team man and he’s one of the first to always congratulate.”
Van Graan said of Redpath: “He’s made a really good start [to the season]. He always performs well for us.
“Obviously respect Gregor [Townsend, Scotland’s head coach] and his decisions, like I do with all head coaches at national teams – they’ve got to make their calls.
“The more players we can have play international rugby, the better for us and I’m sure Cam will be back. That’s just the player and the person that he is and whatever game time he gets with Bath I’m sure he’ll keep knocking on the Scotland door.”
Scotland squad:
Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow), Alexander Masibaka (Montpellier), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), Harri Morris (Edinburgh), Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh), George Turner (Harlequins), Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors).
Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Finn Russell (Bath), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).
Wales squad:
Forwards: Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Brodie Coghlan (Dragons), Christian Coleman (Dragons), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff), James Fender (Ospreys), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Morgan Morse (Ospreys), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Danny Southworth (Cardiff), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Backs: Josh Adams (Cardiff), Jacob Beetham (Cardiff), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Max Llewellyn (Gloucester), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Callum Sheedy (Cardiff), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Tomos Williams (Gloucester).
