'This won’t be a walkover': Ex-Scotland star questions team's mental toughness

Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton has warned Gregor Townsend’s side that their Calcutta Cup heroics will count for little unless they prove they can handle the expectation that now follows them to Cardiff.

Speaking ahead of Scotland’s Round 3 trip to the Principality Stadium, Hamilton was clear that the victory over England must be a springboard rather than a peak.

“Scotland were incredible last weekend, you can hype it up but the reality now is for Scotland to back it up. The next evolution for this Scotland team to be taken seriously is not just about beating England but how they did – it’s actually to win a Championship,” Hamilton told Premier Sports, who will broadcast the game this weekend in the UK.

Hamilton admitted the Murrayfield performance felt like a watershed moment.

“I wasn’t surprised by the Scotland performance against England it was coming – it was goosebumps because it was the first time we saw a complete 80-minute performance, the atmosphere and energy in Scotland was electric.”

Yet for all the praise, he returned repeatedly to the issue that has trailed this Scotland generation.

“The big question around Scotland has always been consistency. We know they can produce big performances – we’ve seen that – but this weekend in Wales is about showing they can deliver again, under pressure.”

With the Principality Stadium roof expected to be closed, Hamilton believes conditions could suit Scotland’s attacking game.

“If the roof is closed and it’s a dry ball, Scotland are one of the most dangerous teams in the world. The skillset in that backline, the ability to play width, the kicking game – you saw against England how devastating that can be.

“Finn Russell is as good as anyone in the world. His vision, the ability to get into the wide channels, the way he pulls defences apart – Wales will know they can’t give him time or space.”

Despite Scotland arriving as favourites, Hamilton dismissed any suggestion the fixture will be straightforward.

“We know Wales are struggling. That’s not belittling Wales or being negative towards them, I have mates in the Welsh set-up I want to see them do well. When I stripped it back last Sunday, I was looking at Wales’ desire, their set-piece, scrum, contact skills and I thought they gave the very best version of themselves.”

“This won’t be a walkover. Wales have had their toughest two games of the Six Nations first up. They showed desire and pride against an incredible French team.”

For Hamilton, the intrigue lies as much in the mental battle as the tactical one.

“This is what we love about the Six Nations and makes this championship so compelling with everyone’s eyes on it. Can Wales pull something out of the bag? Are Scotland mentally fragile – do they have it in them to back it up? There are psychological battles all over the pitch.”

As part of its rights agreement with Six Nations Rugby, Premier Sports is showing one live match per round from the 2026 Championship across the UK, further strengthening its position as a leading home of elite rugby coverage.