URC High-Flyer McNicholl Believes He Has Plenty to Offer at Test Level

Johnny McNicholl has been leading the way in the BKT United Rugby Championship this season and is adamant he still has plenty to offer at international level.

The Scarlets back three man has made more metres (805) and more offloads (21) than any other player, beaten 26 defenders and produced 13 clean breaks. He’s also made the most metres in contact (68) among the full-backs in the league, while he’s come up with five try assists.

 As for his own ever-growing scoring tally, he’s touched down seven times in all competitions. Suffice to say, he’s having a season to remember.

Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel is glowing about the former Crusaders star, describing him as a “devastating attacker”, a disciplined defender and one of the form players in the game.

Yet, despite that fine form, McNicholl hasn’t figured in the Wales set-up since winning the last of his ten caps against Italy just under a year ago.

“Yes, I was disappointed not to be in the Six Nations squad, is the short answer,” he admits.

“It’s just one man’s opinion at the end of the day. I know I am playing well. I’ve been happy with my performances.   “I might not be the type of player they want in their squad. Who knows what they are having in their back-room chats. 

“It’s just a couple of people’s opinions and I can’t really change that, other than play well and I feel like I am doing that. So it is what it is.

“I am a confident player and I would probably say I could add something to any squad, be it Wales or any club team in the world.  

“But I’m not the one that picks the team. They might have a different agenda, they might want different types of players.  

“It’s just the start of that new reign with Wales. It’s disappointing not to have made the squad, but my focus is at the Scarlets and playing really good rugby.  

“Normally, playing really good rugby means you get rewarded with higher honours, so hopefully I’ll continue to do that, continue to knock on that door and potentially I can change those minds that are picking those squads.”

Having arrived in Llanelli from New Zealand in 2016 with a reputation as a top-class finisher, McNicholl has lived up to that billing, recently joining an exclusive group of players who have scored 50 tries for the west Wales region.  

He brought up his half century against the Dragons in January and has added three more touchdowns to his haul since then.