TIME TO TARGET THE SIX NATIONS
WHEN Scotland arrived at the World Cup last month, many feared an ignominious exit at the group stages beckoned. And the doom-mongers had a point after a poor Six Nations campaign had put the Scots at rock-bottom.
Fast forward a month, however, and Scottish rugby has a skip in its step. Lost amid the rancour and acrimony of being robbed of a place in the semi-finals by Craig Joubert’s blunder was just how well Vern Cotter’s side had performed.
Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw insisted after the quarter-final loss to Australia this was ‘a special generation’ and it is players such as Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg and Mark Bennett who are stoking this feeling of optimism.
Whisper it, but is this a Scotland team that can at last hold their own in the Six Nations campaign to come?
The more intriguing question is what has changed? After all, nine of the players who lost 40-10 in the final Six Nations home defeat to Ireland in March — including Laidlaw, Russell, Tommy Seymour and David Denton — all started against the Aussies at the weekend.
‘There was no question that Vern Cotter just needed time to make his influence felt as a top-class coach,’ said George Graham, the ex-Scotland prop and former Scotland assistant head coach.
‘The Six Nations was maybe a bit too early for that because whenever a new coach comes in it takes him a little time to get across his vision to the players. On top of that, from personal experience, I know you don’t get much time with the players before the Six Nations and can only tinker with things during the competition.
‘The build-up to the World Cup is different, though. Cotter had three months working with his players and, from what I have seen, they have bought into his game plan because of their time together.
‘Also, in that three-month period he would have learned everything about his players — what makes them tick, their strengths and weaknesses. That allowed him to pick what he felt was his best squad and then his best starting team for the World Cup.’
So is a Six Nations title in the offing?
‘That may be a step too far but I would love to see it happen,’ said the former Scotland prop. ‘Of course, we will go into the Six Nations with a lot of confidence but finishing third is where we should be happy with — anything more than that would be a bonus.
‘Scotland can beat anybody on their day in knockout competition, as they so nearly showed against Australia in the World Cup. But in the Six Nations you need to find consistency which we have lacked in the tournament in the past.
‘Other teams will have points to prove, none more so than England. Not making the knockout stages of the World Cup put huge pressure on them. They remain one of the top rugby nations in the world and they will come back stronger.
‘Ireland and Wales got to the quarter-finals, like Scotland, and will also be threats. France? Well, who knows what French side will turn up? One thing is for certain, I can’t see Scotland picking up the Wooden Spoon this time.’
Ben Cairns, who played eight times for Scotland before injury cut his career short aged just 27, is equally optimistic that the Six Nations can be a big success.
The former centre, who is making a name for himself as a coach at Currie, believes the confidence within the squad allowed them to take risks and play fast, exciting rugby during the World Cup.
‘In the group games against Japan, USA and Samoa, Scotland scored some good tries and in the quarter-finals Tommy Seymour and Mark Bennett took theirs well,’ said Cairns. ‘Scotland were a very exciting team to watch during the World Cup and some of their players really came of age during the tournament.
‘Although the last Six Nations was disappointing, I always thought it was just a blip and they would show their true colours in the World Cup. That’s exactly what they did and they did the country proud by the way they played.
‘This is a Scotland side where they have lots of players fighting it out for a starting place, which can only be a good thing.
‘You have so many good players all vying to make the team — and it’s in every position. The back row, the front row, all over the pitch you have players who can do a job.
‘This is a Scotland team with a bright future. I am sure they will do well in the next Six Nations with top three for me being a good finish.’