Toony tips men to end 16yr wait for win in Cardiff

GREGOR TOWNSEND insists Scotland won’t be weighed down by great expectations ahead of next weekend’s Six Nations opener in Wales.

The Dark Blues head coach is convinced pre-tournament optimism is justified after Autumn Tests which delivered a win over Australia and the narrowest of defeats to a world-class New Zealand side.

Despite the bold talk ahead of this campaign, Townsend’s men must attempt to buck a 16-year trend since the last win in Cardiff but he’s adamant there’s a cause to be bullish.

He said: “We have high expectations of our playing group and we have to because we’re playing the best teams in the world.

“We took on the No.1 and No.3 teams in the world in our last two games. We want to create a belief within our group that we can win those games.

“If you have high expectations of players you’re saying to them I believe in you. You’ve got to work hard but this is what I believe we can do.

“It’s been a process of a few agonising defeats to Australia in the last few years that have created a resolve and that belief in our players that we can beat the best teams.”

Scotland have been inventive, slick and at times swashbuckling in recent games and Townsend believes taking a positive and aggressive approach to the upcoming challenge will give his side the best chance of success.

He said: “I grew up watching Scottish teams that created quick ball.

“It was about being ruthless around the ruck area and making sure that ball comes out quickly but there was a pace about the way Scotland played.

“There was a pace in the defence as well, so they went after teams and got turnovers.

“It showed that we were hard workers and we had players who were dynamic – and we still have that today.

“We have players who have really good ability to move the ball into space, whether they are front five or back line players. So we want to see that come out. With the tweak in the laws, attacking teams have had certain boosts and advantages in the last few years.”

Townsend is hopeful of having playmaker Greig Laidlaw available for the Welsh opener after the scrum-half made a much-anticipated return to action with Clermont last weekend after a leg fracture.

Star man Stuart Hogg also returned for Glasgow against Exeter last weekend alongside fellow fitness doubt Tommy Seymour and the coach admits it was an anxious watch.

He said: “I watched with my fingers crossed but it was great to see them play so well. Two of the tries were world class. And we’ve talked about Greig coming back. It’s a nice boost.”

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