Glasgow Warriors star on his unexpected first Scotland start

The 23-year-old made his international debut against Tonga in October but his first start arrived in style against Chile this summer.

Naturally a scrum-half, Gregor Townsend deployed Dobie on the wing and he came within metres of scoring a stunning hat-trick after claiming his first two tries for Scotland in the 52-11 triumph. 

Dobie’s versatility is a major asset and no secret with Warriors head coach Franco Smith regularly switching him between the two positions.

And Scotland chief Townsend gained a better understanding of his unquestionable talents on a hugely successful summer tour for Dobie.

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“I probably didn't expect my first start for Scotland to come on the wing,” Dobie laughed. “But I suppose over the last couple of years, especially since Franco's come in, I've obviously spent a lot more time on the wing than I had previously. And I've been able to develop it.

“Now I'm absolutely more comfortable starting games or moving to the wing and being able to cover that. And I'm always still learning. I've still got a lot of learning to do in terms of how I can maximise if you're on the wing. But, yeah, it's a bit different to maybe how I thought it might have been after the first couple of years here. But I’ve enjoyed both.

“The summer tour was really good in terms of the opportunity for the group that was involved. Obviously some boys got the summer off, so it was a bit of a younger, more inexperienced team mixed with some more experienced boys. So, for me personally, that was awesome to be right in the mix.

Jamie Dobie in action for Scotland against Chile (Image: Getty Images) "I was obviously involved in all four of the games, which was awesome, and it was pretty even in terms of minutes at scrum half and wing.

"Obviously the two starts I had were on the wing and that probably helped me with a couple of run-ins, especially in the Chile game. 

“But it was an amazing opportunity to travel and see places and play against countries that you might necessarily not get to or get to play in other chances. So I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"And personally, and for a lot of the boys on that tour, it was a really good opportunity to spend a few weeks with the coaches and work with them and sort of build confidence and ability to get into squads in the future.”

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Smith’s preference of having a 6-2 split between forwards and backs on his bench has enhanced the importance of Dobie’s ability to play two positions and Scotland head coach Townsend also views it as hugely beneficial. 

Asked on the feedback he received from Townsend over the summer, Dobie said: “I think he's been pretty open about it and Franco was the same about it. And obviously it's a bit more obvious in Glasgow with the 6-2 split that we run pretty much every week, that ability to play 9 and cover wing. I've started a few games at 9 and the wing is only a benefit, is what the coaches say. 

"And obviously for me as well, it means I get on the pitch more. At the weekend, I moved to the wing for the last 20 minutes so I can still play the full 80 and get as many involvements as possible. So I think Gregor has been pretty open with how he sees it as a positive.”

Jamie Dobie has enjoyed an excellent start to the season with Glasgow (Image: SNS) Dobie has started all three of Glasgow’s opening URC fixtures this season in his preferred position at scrum-half and impressed with a try in the weekend win over Cardiff.

With just three more club games before the international break, Dobie hopes to have enhanced his prospects of securing the number nine jersey for Scotland for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series.

“Obviously that's the goal,” Dobie admitted.

“I think hopefully from my involvement in the summer tour, as well as the start of the season, I hope that the national coaches will have faith in me and I’ll hopefully be able to get some minutes, whether that be from the bench or starting. 

“But I've got to wait and see. Obviously I've had the opportunity to start the first three games and have a lot of minutes at scrum half, which has been great.

"I don't know the last time I started three games back to back and I've now had three 80 minutes in a row. So in terms of the consistency, of being able to build and learn off, take learnings from games straight into the next week, that's sort of the best thing about being able to go back to back. I’ve really enjoyed that.”