Scotland need everyone on their game to get off to a winning start
probably towards the end of certain matches as well. But today’s game could well be a cagier affair; one in which the teams indulge in some cautious sparring, albeit of a particularly punitive kind, before they attempt an all-out attack. If so, it may play into Ireland’s hands, as in recent years Scotland have frequently begun games too slowly, particularly at the start of tournaments.
Cotter and his coaches have spent some time addressing that problem, and have adjusted their preparation this week in a bid to get the players off to a fiercer, faster start, albeit one in which rationality has to reign over raw emotion. “That’s something nobody wants,” assistant coach Nathan Hines said yesterday when reminded of Scotland’s slow starts. “We had a pretty good start against Australia, but when Ireland beat the All Blacks [in November] they had a really good start. It’s no secret that every team wants to start well and is always looking to improve what they do to get that outcome.”
Scotland’s biggest concern is the international inexperience of their two props, Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson, who start because of injuries to Alasdair Dickinson and Willem Nel. The loss of Nel in particular was a blow to Cotter’s plans, but Ireland have had their injury worries too, and are without their most important player, stand-off Jonny Sexton. “It’s obviously a bit of a loss, but I don’t think it will make our job any easier,” Hines insisted. “Paddy [Jackson, Sexton’s replacement] is a quality player, and I think he will be executing with the same accuracy as Jonny.”
The absence of Sexton has increased the burden of responsibility on Conor Murray, the Munster scrum-half who complained bitterly about his treatment by Glasgow players during the recent Champions Cup game between the sides. The Warriors insisted they had targeted Murray’s clearance kicks legitimately, but it has remained a source of rancour between the players involved.
It remains to be seen whether today’s referee, Romain Poite of France, has been influenced by the controversy into subconsciously opting to give the No 9 extra protection. It would certainly not be a surprise if such a possibility had occurred to Murray before he went public with his complaints. Murray and Jackson, Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell, all will have major roles to play. If Scotland are to prevail, however, they will need every man close to his best. It can be done, but against a team that beat the All Blacks three months ago there can be virtually no margin for error.