Scotland believe 'key ingredients are there' to win Six Nations title

Ewan Ashman is relishing the prospect of starting a Six Nations match for the first time in his career after emerging as Scotland’s first-choice hooker in the lead-up to the championship.

The 24-year-old Edinburgh forward has been given the chance to make the number two jersey his own since the experienced George Turner ruled himself out of contention for the national team by leaving Glasgow to move to Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan last summer.

Ashman was Turner’s understudy during the 2023 World Cup and in last year’s Six Nations, and then became Gregor Townsend preferred hooker during the summer tour of the Americas and the autumn series, starting three of the four November Tests.

Despite having won 22 caps since his debut in November 2021, Ashman has never previously started a Six Nations match.

Fixture

Six Nations

Scotland

31 - 19

Full-time

Italy

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While taking nothing for granted about selection – although he appears certain to get the nod ahead of clubmates Paddy Harrison and Dave Cherry – Ashman is excited by his elevated status within the squad ahead of the opening match at home to Italy on Saturday.

“I can’t remember being this excited to play in a tournament for a long time,” said Ashman.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than Six Nations. Growing up, it was probably one of the most exciting competitions in the world. I’m hugely excited and looking forward to it.

“It was great getting some minutes in the autumn, I loved it. Every time I get an opportunity to train for Scotland and to play for Scotland, I don’t take it for granted.

“I know how big it is for me personally and my family. Whatever I can do to play as many games and minutes as possible, I’m going to do and be more professional than I ever have. It would be great to get out there and play those games, especially at Murrayfield.”

Ashman believes Scotland are in “a really good place” going into the Six Nations and have all the attributes required to be considered title contenders.

“All the key ingredients are there,” he said. “You’ve seen from our performances in the autumn and the learnings that we’re going to take from both the losses and the big wins that we can step forward.

“In these games, there are tiny margins, but if we get that right and we stamp out those one or two small areas, 100 per cent, we can change it to a championship.

“I can only speak for the time I’ve been here, but I can’t remember a time in the last few years where belief has been this high and the buzz around the camp and everything has felt like this. I feel we’re in a really good place with our confidence and belief off the back of the performances in the autumn.”

Scotland will be aiming to right the wrongs of Rome last March when they kick off their campaign on Saturday at home to an Azzurri side who fought back to defeat them 31-29 in the Eternal City.

Ashman, who came on in the midst of the Scots’ second-half collapse in the Stadio Olimpico, said: “Obviously, last year was tough away in Italy. Hopefully, that will be fresh in the minds of everybody.

“It was certainly a sore one for me last year, and I’m sure it was for all the supporters as well. They’re a great team and they demand respect. We have to be on our best and all the boys know that.

“Just from a couple of days’ training (last week), you can feel that the boys know that because they’re training so intensely. It’s one I’m looking forward to.”