Ex-Scotland lock Hamilton: 'We're 12 points better than Wales'
Retired Test-level forward Jim Hamilton has claimed that Scotland are poised to make it two wins from two next Saturday in this 2023 Guinness Six Nations, suggesting that Gregor Townsend’s side are 12 points a better team this year than Warren Gatland’s Wales. Fresh from their latest Calcutta Cup triumph over England, the Scots now host the Welsh at BT Murrayfield this coming weekend.
Recent championship victories over England weren’t built on, Scotland losing in round two to Wales in both 2021 and 2022. But Hamilton, an engine room veteran between 2006 and 2015, has predicted his countrymen won’t fall at the second step this time around.
Scotland defeated England 29-23 in a Twickenham thriller that was an improvement on the performances in their previous 11-6 and 20-17 wins over their Calcutta Cup rivals, and it is that progress that has given Hamilton the belief that the Scots won’t suffer another Welsh ambush.
Their round two fixtures in recent seasons following round one wins over England ended in 24-25 and 17-20 defeats, but the former second row has now predicted a very different outcome next weekend.
Speaking on The Rugby Pod, the weekly show he co-hosts with Andy Goode, Hamilton said: “We have got some quality players… and that was one of the most complete performances I have seen in a long time, yet there is so much more that I think this Scotland team has which is crazy to say.
300 pints on tour & Calcutta Cup Heroics with Sione Tuipulotu ???????
Listen now on Spotify ? https://t.co/aZOq2elfqW pic.twitter.com/KUqJl7Vi80
— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) February 7, 2023
“Wales are a bogey team for us… but I think we are 12 points better than Wales, I genuinely do, and we have got to have the confidence and the lads have to have the confidence to believe in that. The difference – and I thought it would be the case if we beat England at the weekend – was all the other times we have won, the two times we have won before, we celebrated like it is the biggest thing that has happened, we celebrated like we had won the Grand Slam.
“And we saw years ago with Greig Laidlaw with his tie tied around his head, Stuart (Hogg) and Finn (Russell), they’re out and they are absolutely smashed steaming because it is everything winning the Calcutta Cup.
“I look at what they did at the weekend and I look at the celebrations and it was different. It felt different, it looked different and I think we are 12 points better than Wales. We need to have the confidence to say that and the confidence when they rock up that we’re like ‘we’re better than ya and we are going to prove it today and we’re going to be two from two going into the fallow week’.
“Where are we? If we finish second or third that has been a brilliant Six Nations for us because Ireland are that good.”
Show co-host Andy Goode, the ex-England out-half, agreed that the Scotland versus Wales game in Edinburgh was now massive. “Every year he has been saying, ‘It’s our year, it’s our year’. They beat England and then it goes down the drum.
“This week’s game against Wales is pivotal for them in terms of where the rest of the tournament goes. Everything that Jim has said on the Pod the last few weeks about the Scottish players came to fruition in terms of the quality against England. Where are they? They have still got a horrible World Cup group but they can do damage in the Six Nations.”
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments