'I know this will send shivers down the spines of their fans'
Andy Nicol is adamant Scotland can cause a Rugby World Cup upset despite the hammer blow of losing Stuart Hogg, their talismanic full back, and having to face reigning champions South Africa and Ireland, ranked World No1, in the tournament’s Pool of Death.
Nicol also has a chilling warning for hosts France and Irish fans who believe the Grand Slam champions will finally deliver at a World Cup saying: “I know this will send shivers down the spines of their fans, but given the draw, France and Ireland could conceivably go out in the quarter-finals. Nothing much has to go wrong for the two teams I see as favourites to not make the last four which would be remarkable.
“We know the draw won’t be made like this again and with Scotland ranked No5 now means their Pool has three teams in the top five. It makes no sense – nor does having five of the world’s top six teams in the same half of the draw.”
Scotland have lost eight in a row against Ireland and the last seven meetings with South Africa so, is it worth Scotland turning up? Not surprisingly, Nicol, a proud Scot, responds with an emphatic “yes” pointing to his country’s recent improvement and ability to not only run the world’s best close against France and New Zealand but register wins over England, Wales and Argentina.
However, Nicol is keenly aware of the void created by 31-year-old Hogg’s injury enforced recent retirement. Former captain Hogg won 100 caps to highlight the depth of rugby knowledge the Scots have to replace as they attempt to defy the odds and somehow make the knock out stages from Pool B which also includes a Tonga side boosted by recent arrivals Israel Folau, Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa and minnows Romania.
Nicol told RugbyPass: “We have a tough group but we have a chance – although it is only a chance. You can say it’s a terrible draw for Scotland but I would argue it’s not a great one for Ireland and South Africa because they must be looking at their game with Scotland knowing we have the ability to beat someone at some point. There will be shocks at this World Cup.
“In the 2019 Cup in Japan there was real expectation that Scotland would get out of their pool I am not sure there is the same expectation this time. Scotland have a brutal draw and there is also Tonga with the new guys they have brought into their squad.
“We have shown that in recent years and we should have beaten the All Blacks and Wallabies. In the Six Nations we beat England, Wales and Italy and in the Ireland and France games we competed but it showed we were just below that level. If Scotland are to get out of their pool they have to ensure they take those key chances that come along.
“Of course, losing Hoggy is a blow because of the experience he has and the confidence he brings to the whole group. In the early stages of his career, Hoggy was the only attacking player Scotland had and now we are multi-talented with lots of back line threats. It is a real shame he won’t be going out on the platform he deserves and in any conversation about the best Scotland players of all time he is right up there.
“The stats show Hoggy has it all: Heineken Cup, Premiership and Pro 12 winner, Lions tours, 100 caps and the Scotland try scoring record. More importantly for me, he was one of the few players Scotland had who, when he got the ball, their was a genuine sense of excitement.”
Nicol, who won 23 caps for Scotland, is backing Blair Kinghorn to step out of the massive shadow cast by the incomparable Hogg. Finding the right role for Kinghorn has been a recurring debate in Scotland and a hat-trick of tries against Italy in the most recent Six Nations showed his attacking class.
He said: “If Hoggy was still there you would still have that debate about is Blair a 10 or a 15. Now that Hoggy has gone he is a 15 and I really like Blair and believe that given the chance he can nail the position down. I also like Ollie Smith and so it’s not a case of Blair getting the position for the next fives years and there is a real competition.
“Blair is so athletic and quick and I hear he is pulling up trees in training and his acceleration off the mark is something you need at full back. There was always a shadow cast by Hoggy and now it has gone, Blair can excel.”
Nicol’s own rugby career with Bath and Glasgow included being drafted onto the Lions bench for the deciding test of the 2001 tour to Australia while he was on holiday in the country to replace the injured Austin Healey. Looking back, Nicol admits he was mightily relieved not to take the pitch having enjoyed a lively R&R in Australia that did not include training for test rugby.
He explained: “If I had got on after five minutes I would have had to be subbed off – guaranteed. I wouldn’t have been able to last and that would have ended my career. As much as people knew the unusual circumstances, my credibility would have been shot.”
Nicol will be at the World Cup without his boots and is not available for any emergency call up by Scotland. Instead he is going to be joining fans on a series of eye catching Rugby World Cup Infinity Sports Travel cruises taking in destinations such as Ibiza and Corsica returning in time to be at the matches being staged in the South of France.
“It is fantastic to bring rugby fans together:” added Nicol. ”We will all be on one ship and it will be a rugby extravaganza and a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to the tournament and France are going to deliver a really great World Cup. To be able to visit hubs like Marseille and see so many different teams will be special and I am so excited.
“The global game has improved and at this World Cup there is real quality in the fourth ranked teams in the pools like Tonga, Georgia and Samoa and the gap is narrowing.
“Given the draw England have got then they are on course for a semi-final place because its been remarkably kind to Steve Borthwick and his squad. If they get to that stage they can beat anyone on their day as they showed against New Zealand in 2019 and this is basically the rehashed squad from that tournament.
“I really hope at this World Cup we will be talking about the rugby not the impact of red and yellow cards and teams don’t opt to go into their shells and try not to lose.”
Join Andy on an exclusive Rugby World Cup cruise for Scotland v Tonga from £450pp with Infinity Sports Travel. www.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
7 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to comments