Six Nations preview - Scotland
Scotland’s agonising defeat in the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-final brought them to a crossroads. Rather than brooding over their exit and letting a cloud hang over, the Scots decided to see it as a catalyst to try and achieve success. Under the tutelage of Vern Cotter consistent improvements were made, last season’s Six Nations saw wins over Ireland, Wales and Italy, but there were also setbacks in defeats to France and England – a 61-21 thrashing at Twickenham being the low point of 2017.
Gregor Townsend took the reigns after the Six Nations and since then Scotland have registered two wins over Australia, 24-19 in Sydney during the summer, along with an impressive 53-24 success at Murrayfield in the autumn. Their swashbuckling style certainly earned the respect of the All Blacks, who were lucky to escape with a 22-17 win in the November series.
Now their attentions turn to the Six Nations again, can Scotland finally be genuine contenders? They were the last winners of the Five Nations, in 1999, but since 2000 their highest finish in the Six Nations is third, which they’ve done just three times, most recently in 2013.
Strengths
Scrum half – Ali Price flourished in the absence of the injured Greig Laidlaw. His distribution is crisp allowing Finn Russell time and space to get his backline firing. Laidlaw’s experience and kicking game offer an alternative, particularly when trying to dictate a tight contest. The former captain’s accuracy from the tee is also a key attribute.
Centre – Scotland have an abundance of talent to choose from in the centre, the Glasgow duo of Alex Dunbar and Huw Jones are likely to start, but options include clubmate Pete Horne, along with Edinburgh’s Mark Bennett, Gloucester’s Matt Scott and Saracens’ Duncan Taylor.
Weaknesses
Front row – Scotland’s front row has been decimated by injuries and it’s an area where opposing teams will surely target. At tighthead Zandar Ferguson will miss the entire tournament, while South Africa-born WP Nel could return for the later rounds. Simon Berghan is also suspended for the Wales game. Gregor Townsend has drafted in two uncapped tightheads – 21-year-old Murray McCallum, of Edinburgh, and Glasgow’s D’Arcy Rae.
At loosehead the situation isn’t much better. Darryl Marfo was one of breakout stars in the autumn, starting all three Tests, but he’ll miss the first two matches at least with a back complaint. Allan Dell, who featured in all of Scotland’s Six Nations matches last season is also injured, as is Al Dickinson. It has opened the door to Jamie Bhatti, Gordon Reid and the recalled Jon Welsh.
The problems don’t end there, hookers Fraser Brown, Ross Ford and George Turner are all out. Stuart McInally has never started a Six Nations match, but he has flourished this season under the guidance of former England international Richard Cockerill at Edinburgh. Backing him up will be his 34-year old clubmate Neil Cochrane or Newcastle’s Scott Lawson, the 36-year-old has not played a Test since 2014.
Key Players
Stuart Hogg – Scotland’s full back has scored 10 tries in his 29 Six Nations appearances. He’s been the Six Nations player of the tournament for the last two seasons. The 25-year-old made an impressive return from a two-month layoff, taking just a minute to score a try for Glasgow in their 28-21 Champions Cup win over Exeter. Hogg didn’t show any signs of rustiness and he is Scotland’s most potent attacking threat.
Finn Russell – The fact that Russell has been signed by Racing 92 to replace Dan Carter shows how highly rated the Scot is. Scotland lack depth at flyhalf, so it’s vital he stays fit if Scotland are to contend.
John Barclay – Part of a vibrant Scarlets team which won the Pro 12 last season and have just reached the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. The move to Wales revived Barclay’s career and he’s returning to Scotland to play his club rugby next season, with Edinburgh. He took over as Scotland captain from Laidlaw during the last Six Nations and has helped steer Scotland to some notable wins in 2017. He leads by example, an abrasive hard-working flanker.
New Talent
Jamie Bhatti – He represented Scotland at U17, U18, U19 and U20’s, but despite this it is the 23-year-old’s first season as a professional. He worked as a slaughter man and considered giving up rugby when he applied for a job with the police. Instead he’s become Glasgow’s first choice loosehead this season and made his debut for Scotland during the autumn making three substitute appearances. The front row injury crisis should give him another opportunity to feature.
Prediction
Scotland begin at the Principality Stadium, they’ve not won in Cardiff since 2002, but broke a nine-year losing streak against the Welsh last season with a 29-13 success and will be confident they can register another victory. Two matches at BT Murrayfield follow, France is very winnable, but it’s been ten years since Scotland’s last beat England and it’s unlikely that run will end. Few manage victories at the Aviva Stadium these days either and Ireland away is one of their sterner tests. Should Scotland manage to take the scalp of England or Ireland, they will be very much Six Nations contenders going into their final match against Italy in Rome, possibly knowing a high-scoring victory is needed to win the trophy and end a 19-year wait.
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to comments