SCOTS COULD HAVE WALES OF A TIME IN BIG SHOWDOWN
SCOTLAND will confront a Six Nations crossroads this afternoon where we’ve seldom been before.
Usually at this stage of the campaign we are staring down two defeats and trying to edge away from Italy in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon.
But a win over Wales and suddenly we’ll find ourselves right in the mix for a Grand Slam.
We are facing a fragile opposition, a side which can be got at.
Make no mistake, they are a side under pressure. I have spoken to a few Welsh mates recently and they say Scotland as the home side are the big favourites, I haven’t believed a word.
Deep down I know they believe they are better than us, that they have better players and are the real Grand Slam material so today is also a massive crossroads for them as well.
Let’s get a huge negative out the way. The loss of skipper Greig Laidlaw can’t be understated, it’s a massive blow.
It’s not just his obvious leadership qualities which we’ll be without, it’s his goal-kicking ability.
The goal kicking is a concern, Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg can both kick but neither of them possesses the same calmness that Laidlaw has.
Vern Cotter’s decision to hand the
captaincy to John Barclay makes perfect sense. He’s backed up by the likes of Jonny and Richie Gray as well as Hogg but Laidlaw’s absence is a sore one.
Ali Price comes in at scrum-half. He’s all about getting things moving quickly and he’ll allow Russell that bit of extra time.
There are many reasons to hope this will be our day. We are at home, the squad will be upbeat about everything after a great win at Murrayfield over Ireland and a solid performance despite a defeat to France.
Scotland could have won in Paris but the French just had that wee extra something which we’ll now need to find against a good Welsh side.
It’s going to be another nip and tuck game, we will need to ensure we are still in the game with 10 minutes to go.
The tempo needs to be high, an intensity which we showed against Ireland is required and we need to make sure we do all we can to disrupt Wales.
They like to use their attacking force from set-piece situations and scrums and they will still be smarting from their defeat to England when they probably should have won.
On paper the Welsh side are better if they play well but Scotland are the home team, we are in a situation where we are on the brink of doing something in this championship.
It has the makings of an entertaining encounter against a side who will come and attack.
It will require everyone playing at their best for us but I have a feeling a decade of hurt could be brought to a close today.