Australian pundit picks the 'weakest players' in the Scotland squad

Australian sports outlet ‘The Roar’ has down a SWOT analysis on a handful of the best teams at the Rugby World Cup and they haven’t pulled their punches at where they see weaknesses in other sides, not least the Scotland squad.

Indeed, as one of the teams whose strengths and weaknesses were evaluated by pundit Harry Jones, Gregor Townsend’s Scotland squad were put under the microscope and an interesting theory on where there may be potential chinks in their armour was furnished. 

The area where Jones sees weak links in Scotland is ironically an area that has often been attributed by the team’s critics as an area of potential unfair advantage for the side: their reliance on South African imports.

Scotland’s 33-man squad has more than a whiff of a Saffa about it, with four players originally from South Africa and centre Huw Jones having spent much of his formative rugby career in the Rainbow Nation.

“The reasons they will lose out again are their set piece frailty (only as compared to South Africa and Ireland) and midfield defence,” wrote Jones.

“Their weakest players are try-scoring 13 Huw Jones (only on defence) because he opens the door as wide without the ball as he does with it, and (as odd as it may sound) their South African props. Old WP Nel is past it and less-than-technical Pierre Schoeman is a bit like Thomas Gallo of Argentina: better at carrying the ball than carrying the scrum.

“In addition, the emigres often play worst when up against their old countries (Paul Willemse, Jack Dempsey, Duhan van der Merwe, Bundee Aki) because they try too hard.”

For sure Scotland face an uphill battle in Pool B against South Africa, Ireland, Tonga and Romania – which has been dubbed this Rugby World Cup’s Pool of Death. Townsend’s side – however – have shown they can mix it with the world’s best in their two-match warm-up with the French. The Scots won the first game in their backyard – admittedly against an understrength France – and very nearly the second against a full-strength outfit in St Etienne the following weekend.

While consistency remains elusive, there is no doubt this Scotland squad are more than capable of felling one or even potentially both of pool favourites Ireland and South Africa.