Different tone but principles the same at the Principality
IT has a very different feel to February’s encounter.
If anything, the scale of the challenge confronting Scotland in Cardiff today is greater than it was when they made a humbling start to this year’s Six Nations Championship.
Back then there were no selection restrictions on either side as a super-confident visiting outfit was picked apart in the opening half hour. This time around, while both teams are without their exiles, the gulf in experience was best demonstrated when Matt Taylor, Scotland’s defence coach, was invited to offer his view on the prospects of young Adam Hastings, the Glasgow Warriors stand-off who was only beginning to make his way in PRO14 rugby this time last year.
“We have been really pleased with Adam, how he’s gone with Glasgow in his development over the last couple of years. This is another stage in his development moving forward against a really good Welsh side containing 10 [British & Irish] Lions. It’s going to be very good for him and the rest of the team as well,” Taylor observed.
There you have it. More Lions in this home starting line-up than Scotland have contributed to the two parties that have toured under Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, for what is, in so many ways, an unusual encounter.
It has been given a special status because of the introduction of The Doddie Weir Cup, while in rugby terms it offers the sort of opportunity for up-and-coming players that is normally reserved for summer tours and secondtier opposition.
That said, had everyone been available, there would have been little difference to a pack that is heavily dependent on Edinburgh and, having worked initially with Warriors as well as Scotland on joining the national team management six years ago, Taylor welcomes the increased input from the east of the country.
“We’ve been really pleased with the development of the Edinburgh forwards,” he said. “Richard Cockerill and the staff there have really developed that group over the past couple of years. The make-up of the team is that the majority of the forwards are Edinburgh and the majority of the backs are from Glasgow. It’s great. I think they’re doing a great job.
“This year Glasgow have probably won more games than Edinburgh but I feel the Edinburgh players are confident in their ability. I think they are at higher stage than a year or two ago. It’s good for cohesion to have that group of players together. A lot of international rugby is about having cohesion and that sometimes comes into play in selection.”
Whereas hubris was at play when Scotland last made this trip in February, there is a more sombre feel this time around, which is perhaps partly attributable to the perspective brought by the Doddie dimension, but also reflects a determination to avoid the repetition of mistakes.
“I guess it’s always nice to be relaxed. We came down yesterday and that creates a different vibe, meaning you don’t just arrive and then play the next day, which is what we do a lot with club rugby,” said Stuart McInally, who was part of the team that lost in February and now leads it out.
“For the boys who haven’t played here before, it’s especially nice to get into the stadium, see it with the roof closed and get a feel for it before it gets packed out tomorrow. I think the boys appreciate coming here.”