Wins against the Wallabies and a scare for the All Blacks - Can Scotland win the Six Nations?
Scotland have had little to celebrate since the dawn of Six Nations in 2000.
Having won the final edition of the Five Nations a year earlier, wooden spoons have come more readily than championships, Grand Slams or Triple Crowns in the 18 campaigns that have followed.
On only three occasions during that time have Scotland managed to finish in the top half, and they ended up bottom of the pile as recently as 2015.
But that season was their first under Vern Cotter and marked the beginning of a steady upturn in form and confidence that sees us arrive here, at the 2018 championship, with Scotland – now coached by Gregor Townsend – as the biggest threat to title favourites England and Ireland.
Following the winless campaign of 2015, Scotland almost pulled off an almighty upset in that year’s Rugby World Cup when they were beaten 35-34 by eventual runners-up Australia in the quarter-finals – the Wallabies benefiting from a controversial late penalty to snatch a contentious victory at Twickenham.
While it was a heartbreaking result for the Scots, their performance demonstrated the ability, desire and belief required to cut it at the highest level, and it gave Cotter a something to build on.
Wins over Italy and France lifted Scotland to fourth in the 2016 Six Nations but a chance to gain revenge over Australia passed them by in the autumn, when a Bernard Foley conversion clinched another one-point game.
See your Scotland team to face Wales this Saturday #AsOne pic.twitter.com/oDa2HhlucE
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) January 31, 2018
Cotter’s departure at the end of the 2017 Six Nations felt premature given the team’s progress under the Kiwi, who – holding back the tears – was afforded a warm reception by fans at Murrayfield following a 29-0 victory over Italy that saw Scotland finish level on points with second-placed Ireland.
The removal of Cotter was brought about by Scottish Rugby’s desire to give the top job to Townsend, who had guided a Glasgow Warriors side boasting many of the country’s biggest stars to the Pro12 title in 2015.
And while it may have seemed a risky move to tamper with a side making tangible progress, the early signs have been positive under Townsend.
That frustrating run of narrow defeats to Australia came to an end in Sydney in June – a first win Down Under since 1982 – before a record-breaking 53-24 triumph at Murrayfield in November secured two victories over the Wallabies in a calendar year for the first time.
A week prior to that momentous result, Scotland had come agonisingly close to upsetting the mighty All Blacks – Stuart Hogg stopped in his tracks as he closed in on the try line in the dying moments as Townsend’s men were beaten 22-17.
With stars such as Hogg, Finn Russell and Tommy Seymour in their prime and confidence among the squad reaching new heights, Scotland will hope this team’s peak is still to come.
A visit to injury-ravaged Wales and a home clash with misfiring France in their opening two fixtures represent two winnable matches that could give Scotland the platform to mount a serious challenge, ahead of home and away fixtures against England and Ireland respectively.
Townsend has said Scotland will need to play “even better than in November” if they are to win this year’s Six Nations, but their form coming into the tournament justifies the ambitious hopes of those fans who dare to dream.
Even if they cannot pull it off, expect Scotland to have a big say in the destination of this year’s championship.
Comments on RugbyPass
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
2 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
6 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
2 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
6 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to comments