GIN JUST THE TONIC
Gregor warns Scotland need a once-in-a-lifetime performance but says rapid Rufus can shine
GIN ON LIME (2.20) can pay for a few rounds by landing the SSS Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Henry de Bromhead’s mare was denied a four-timer when chinned by Fan De Blues at Galway. However, she turned the tables on her rival with a commanding success in a Tipperary Group 3.
That form can deny favourite My Drogo.
SKATMAN (1.10) can call the tune for Paul Nicholls in a competitive conditionals’ hurdle. The gelding opened his timber account by crushing Presentandcounting over 2m 4f at Musselburgh.
He soon built on that effort when hammering the talented Yggdrasil down in trip at Newton Abbot. The six-yearold looks a Graded performer so he can take advantage of a very inviting mark.
STOLEN SILVER (1.45) can plunder the Paddy Power Handicap Chase for shrewd Sam Thomas.
The grey showed decent form for Nigel Twiston-Davies only to lose his way late last season but bolted up from Beyond The Clouds on debut for current trainer at Market Rasen. The gelding remains nicely unexposed over fences so he can make light of a well-earned 4lb hike.
POTTERS CORNER (2.55) has the edge in the Glenfarclas
Cross-Country Handicap Chase. Christian Williams’ star showed his liking for this unique test when third in this race 12 months ago.
The 11-year-old is back on an attractive mark and he should be primed after a recent spin at Aintree.
OFF YOUR ROCCO (3.30) can shade another red-hot renewal of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott’s horse returned with a hugely impressive defeat of the useful Farout at Listowel.
The five-year-old stayed on the rise when slamming The Little Yank in a Limerick Listed contest. The gelding is unexposed over 2m 5f so can beat some exciting rivals.
SAMBA DANCER (4.00) looks the best of Fergal O’Brien’s squad in the Valda Handicap Hurdle. The sixyear-old completed a treble with a battling defeat of Straw Fan Jack over track and trip.
BY a team who are currently ranked second behind New Zealand.
Head coach Townsend insists tomorrow’s Murrayfield match is the biggest test his team have faced since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
He warns his players must be even better than they were against the English or French if they are going to win.
Townsend said: “This is the biggest challenge that we’ve had in the last two years. They are the world champions, a team that’s very tough to play against.
“They have beaten the All Blacks and had two wins over the Lions. Their form is still right up there.
“So it will take belief this week and also accuracy, huge physicality and one of our best-ever performances.
“Think of the performances in Paris and England and we need another one of them with a little bit extra.
“I believe that will get us over the line but it’s going to take an enormous effort to replicate those performances.
“We’re going to have to front up physically. The way South Africa attack is very direct.
“They want more set pieces, they want to go to scrum and lineout, so we’ve got to make sure that area is something that we’re able to not only compete in but impose our strengths on them.
“There are going to be a lot of kicks to field and a lot of kicks to chase. We’ll have to make sure that we’re still able to do what we want to do at certain times and that’s what we’ve been working on this week. But we’re going to have to play their game and play our game at the same time.”
Townsend has made four changes to his starting line-up, two in the backs and two up front.
Leicester centre Matt Scott is set to win his first cap for four years and Glasgow Warriors winger Rufus McLean is back after making a spectacular try-scoring debut against Tonga two weeks ago.
In the pack, Edinburgh hooker Stuart McInally returns from illness and his team-mate Nick Haining is in the back row instead of Hamish Watson.
The coach has basically gone for the most powerful team he could pick against the side who are always the most physical in world rugby. The exception is the slightly-built McLean, whose electric pace could be a crucial weapon as long as Scotland hold their own in the battle up front.
Townsend said: “I thought Rufus was outstanding against Tonga and we feel it’s a good opportunity for him.
“We believe he is ready and we think he offers something different.”
McLean punches well above his weight in defence, and always backs himself to get the better of his opposite number.
That self-belief is something that has grown through the team over recent years, and Toony thinks it is a crucial ingredient of their success.
He said: “It’s about managing the moments when doubt might have crept in in the past. There’s togetherness and belief that we can go and win this.
“That could be on the back of a very good performance like the one in Paris or last week, which wasn’t quite as good a performance, but still doing enough to win.
“It’s about managing the moments and finding a way to win. You look at your team-mate and he looks confident and you go, ‘Right, we’re going to win this’.
“This is the biggest challenge for us, it will be a good test of where we are.”
Townsend insists their recent record proves they can compete with the best. He said: “When we’ve been given chances in the last 12 months to knock over teams we’ve not beaten for a while, on a number of occasions we’ve done it.”