Still room for Scots to improve
Last week’s defeat and the loss of their captain are big set-backs for Cotter’s men, but it’s not all bad news as they head for the crunch match with Wales, says Stuart Bathgate
ANY team, in any tournament, need a balance of optimism and realism if they are going to do themselves justice. Optimism beforehand, of course, because without it there is no point in taking part. Then realism once a couple of matches have been played, because if you cannot assess yourself with ruthless honesty, you will be condemned to repeat your mistakes.
Certainly, after the first two rounds of the Six Nations Championship, the excitement that surrounded Scotland beforehand has been tempered by sobriety. If they really are the best national side we have had since 1999, they are one which face a massive uphill battle to emulate that team and actually win the title.
With three games to go and 15 points to play for, it is still arithmetically possible. But, while the home win over Ireland represented significant progress, above all for the way in which Vern Cotter’s team fought back to win 27-22 after falling behind late in the second half, the defeat in Paris highlighted the squad’s limitations.
Those limitations – inexperience in a few positions, insufficient power in others, and a lack of depth on the bench – appear sure to be as ruthlessly exploited by England at Twickenham as they were by the French in the Stade de France.
Before the Calcutta Cup comes the visit of Wales on Saturday, and that match, which must be close to a 50-50 call, could tip Scotland’s season one way or the other. If they win, then go on to beat Italy, they will have improved on last year’s tally of two victories. If they lose, Twickenham may turn into a damage-limitation exercise, with the visit of the Italians on the final day then becoming one which the team need to win simply to equal last season’s results.
Should that analysis strike you as too pessimistic, remember this: Scotland have yet to play a game without Greig Laidlaw. They missed their captain badly when he went off in the first half against France with the ankle ligament damage which has ruled him out of the rest of the competition, and whoever is selected as skipper instead will be hard pressed to provide the same sagacious leadership.
Laidlaw is no longer a one-man band: the other senior members of the squad are now far closer to him when it comes to composure and decision-making than they were, say, at the 2015 World Cup. But his blend of cool self-possession and an indomitable will to win is still without equal.
At least Henry Pyrgos and Ali Price are able deputies as scrum-halves, but there are other areas of the squad where resources are already severely depleted. Above all, the loss of Alasdair Dickinson and Willem Nel to injury before the tournament thrust a lot of responsibility on Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson, the men chosen to replace them at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively. The scrum has been the single most difficult area for Scotland, and the position will only worsen if there are further front-row injuries.
Having said all that, we should not overlook the many positive aspects of the team’s play thus far, above all the attacking verve they showed in the first half against Ireland. Scoring three tries over the course of the five matches was just about the limit of Scotland’s powers a few years back – they managed the same in under 40 minutes against the Irish, and came agonisingly close to a fourth try that would have given them a bonus point before the break.
There is now an attacking threat right across the back line, not just from Stuart Hogg at full-back. Huw Jones, in particular, has made a significant difference, forming a promising partnership with Alex Dunbar, and adding defensive solidity as well as an eye for a break.
Having enjoyed a bit of breathing space last week after a frenetic first two weeks of Six Nations action, the outside centre suggested that, while there was much to be pleased with in Scotland’s first two outings, there were also some obvious flaws that had to be addressed.
“We have a lot to improve on,” said Jones, who will join Glasgow
The result against Ireland was amazing, but I still don’t think we played to our full potential
Warriors next season once his Currie Cup commitments with the Stormers are over – which could mean the end of October.
“The result against Ireland was amazing, but I still don’t think we played to our full potential. We defended for most of the game and struggled to keep hold of the ball. We gave away quite a few penalties.
“The story was the same against France and we ended up on the losing side. We’ve done some things really well. Our conversion rate of chances has been good, but there’s a lot to work on.
“Against France especially, our decision-making in attack wasn’t great. That falls upon all of us, maybe not working as hard as we should have done and not seeing opportun- ities. We’re still giving away quite a few penalties and not really playing in the right parts of the field.”
The one consolation of the 22-16 defeat in Paris was that it produced Scotland’s first bonus point since the system was introduced. They are fifth, behind France and Wales only on points differential, and would have been ahead of second-placed Ireland had they got that fourth try at Murrayfield. With England clear favourites to retain their title, and Italy looking doomed to the wooden spoon, it could remain close between the other four, with bonuses possibly determining the outcome.
“You look at it and think one point is better than nothing,” Jones added of the Paris result. “It’s not the end of the world. The fact they’ve brought in bonus points does makes the competition more interesting. We could still technically go on and win.”
Technically, yes. Optimistically, yes. But realistically?
The loss of Laidlaw last week was a body blow. By the end of the championship a new Scotland will have emerged: a team who have learned to cope without their talismanic captain. How quickly that occurs will determine the position they end up in.