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The reason why Huw Jones feels beaten Scotland can win Six Nations

By PA
(Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Bullish Huw Jones is adamant Scotland are still very much alive and kicking in the battle for the Guinness Six Nations title despite returning from Paris with nothing to show for their spirited performance. The Scots roared back from 19-0 down to get within four points of France going into the closing stages, but the hosts scored a late try to secure a 32-21 victory and ensure the visitors were denied a bonus point.

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Gregor Townsend’s side are second in the table and must overturn a five-point deficit and an inferior points difference if they are to get ahead of championship leaders and the top-ranked side in the world Ireland, who they welcome to BT Murrayfield in their next match before then hosting Italy.

“It was tough to see France go over the line right at the end and miss out on the losing bonus point but we are still in it with two games at home to play,” said centre Jones. “We back ourselves against anybody in this championship, but especially at home.

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Disappointment palpable as Scotland dissect their loss to France in the Six Nations

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Disappointment palpable as Scotland dissect their loss to France in the Six Nations

“We have got a good record at Murrayfield, we make it tough for anyone who comes there, so we have got a lot to look forward to and a lot of positives to take from the France game. We’ve improved a lot but we’ve still not hit our peak so hopefully over the next two weeks we can get there and put out an 80-minute performance.”

Jones feels Scotland – who won their first two games against England and Wales – are coming to the boil nicely ahead of their potentially pivotal showdown with the Irish. “We have improved game by game in the tournament,” he said.

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“Despite the loss against France, that was our best all-round performance. We are just looking to improve week by week and our next game is at home against Ireland, another top-two team in the world. But, like against France when we thought we could have come away with the win, we will back ourselves to win in two weeks. We will go into that game with confidence.”

Jones scored two of Scotland’s three tries at Stade de France but was disappointed and frustrated that they ultimately counted for nothing. “As a back, it’s always nice to score tries because that is your job but it would have been nice to score another one and win the game,” he said.

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“I felt like we were in the ascendancy. We were playing a lot of good rugby. After Finn Russell’s try (which made it 25-21 to France), we just needed to get down their end again but a couple of mistakes here and there and in the last five minutes we were sitting on our line rather than their line.

“We had a plan to attack and we did that a lot but we missed a couple of opportunities. I just wish we were on the right side of the score, but there were a lot of positives to take.”

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Trevor 34 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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