DUNBAR: ‘When I saw the gap, I just went for it’

IT was Keith Wood who delivered the killer stat line during the TV coverage of Saturday’s RBS Six Nations opener between Scotland and Ireland. “Alex Dunbar, Centre,” the Irish legend said. “Line-outs won: 1 of 1, 100 per cent”

The moment, 28 minutes into Saturday’s breathless encounter at BT Murrayfield, when the Glasgow Warriors centre tiptoed into position between the Gray brothers in the line-out and gleefully exploited the corridor left by the Irish defenders for Scotland’s third try of the afternoon will live long in the collective memory. It was as good an example as you will see, even on Super Bowl weekend, of a coach being prepared to think outside the box, the right play being called at the right moment, and the players in question executing it perfectly. Even if Vern Cotter was honest enough to admit that even he wasn’t sure whether it would come off at all and the 26-year-old from Dumfries isn’t banking on going in for too many other line-outs in the future.

“I’ve been trying to get in amongst the forwards all my days!” joked Dunbar. “No, it was a move we’d worked on a little bit. I was just happy to catch the ball. And luckily there was a gap in front of me.

“Ireland set up and marked it at the start,” he added. “But, as Jonny [Gray] made the call, they moved and the gap opened. So when I saw it, I just went for it.”

The sense of euphoria was entirely understandable amongst a Scotland group relieved to win on the opening weekend of a Six Nations for the first time since 2006, not to mention getting on the right end of a close result against a top international side for a change. Cotter wasn’t wavering on his modest pre-tournament demand of two wins as he undergoes his long goodbye as Scotland manager but hope springs eternal ahead of the visit to take on France in Paris on Sunday.

In particular, if a Scottish backline stuffed with explosive runners can run in three tries against Ireland in a match where they had only 41 per cent possession and had to make twice as many tackles as their opponents, what can they do when they are on the front foot more and forwards can secure even more ball?

Richie Gray, a more conventional Scotland line-out target, is in no doubt that it is the most exciting international back division in his time with the national team, a period stretching seven years. While a few missed tackles crept in during the second half, the introduction of the quicksilver Huw Jones from the Stormers adds an additional dimension to this unit. In Paris, this week the Scots may be more swashbuckling than their Gallic hosts.

“It’s certainly the most explosive collection of backs we’ve had in my time with Scotland,” said Gray. “It’s unbelievable, their pace off the mark. Taking points almost every time we went into their 22, that’s down to having strike runners like we do in the back division there. They are pretty gifted. It would be tough going up against them.”

Another impressive stat line on the day was delivered by Richie’s brother Jonny. He ended up with 28 tackles - an obscene amount for a lock forward. In fact, it was a Scottish Test match record – at least in so far as the history books go back. “What did he get, 28?” said Richie. “That’s ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. But there you go. It’s just another day in Jonny’s world.”

As much as is correctly made of the spin-off for Scotland from the successful continental performances of Glasgow and Edinburgh, the elder Gray brother will bring plenty of knowhow next week about the French game from life in Toulouse, while match-winner Greig Laidlaw will depart for a three-year deal at Clermont Auvergne soon enough.

For once, the Scots travel there with momentum and no shortage of belief. Like Dave Brailsford’s philosophy of marginal gains with Team Sky, all these little things – including innovations from the line-out – add up to something pretty formidable.

Richie added:“We have a very solid game plan. And I think we’re a bit smarter now, too, with a bit more belief. It is a mental thing. Of course it is. Winning is a habit, just like losing.”