Rob: Aisle be keen to beat old pal Gregor
WALES assistant coach Rob Howley is so pally with Gregor Townsend that the Scot was there to see him walk down the aisle.
And he reckons Toony and the Scotland job are a marriage made in heaven.
Howley became friends with Townsend in their playing days when they toured South Africa with the Lions in 1997. They remain close to this day but will be desperate to put one over each other when the Scots open the Six Nations campaign in Cardiff.
The Welsh may have home advantage next weekend but Howley knows they face a huge challenge now Townsend is in charge of Scotland.
He said: “I know Gregor very well and he’s a very good friend. He’s one of my former half-back partners and came to my wedding.
“He has done a great job taking Scotland on from Vern Cotter and getting some outstanding victories in the autumn.
“They will come here buoyant. We will need to focus on discipline but it’s going to be a cracking game.”
Wales haven’t won the Six Nations for five years and their cause hasn’t been helped by a knee injury that will rule Rhys Webb out for most of the tournament.
But Howley hopes an opening win over the Scots can give them the momentum for a title push.
He said: “We have not won it for a while and that is very much at the forefront of our minds. Scotland turned us over last year but we’re looking to start fast and well.”