Wilson believes Scots have strong forward momentum

● Coach delighted with competition for places and will push for as many forwards as he can in final 31-man World Cup squad

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It is a well established rugby truth that forwards win matches, backs decide by how much. For all the advances in the modern game since the advent of professionalism 24 years ago, that is one thing that hasn’t changed.

The main stars of the Scotland squad currently preparing for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, which starts in late September, are the flashy backs.

Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell aretheprimeboxofficenames, with emerging talents such as 22-year-old winger Darcy Graham and breakthrough centre Sam Johnson also boosting their profile with standout displays in Scotland’s last Test match, that unforgettable 38-38 draw with England at Twickenham at the end of the Six Nations in March.

With Gregor Townsend, one of the great flair players in Scottish rugby history, at the helm, it is no surprise that a spirit of derring do behind the scrum has become a trademark of this team.

But the workhorses up front aren’t going to let the show ponies hog all the limelight and it goes without saying that the success or failure of the upcoming campaign in the Far East will rest on their broad shoulders.

That Calcutta Cup epic may be best remembered for Russell’s wizardry, Graham’s cracking try brace and Johnson’s barnstormer but let’s not forget that the tries contributed by Stuart Mcinally in the harrowing first half and Magnus Bradbury midway through the second were finishes that Townsend himself would have been proud of in his heyday.

While the head coach masterminds the attack, forwards boss Danny Wilson is happy working away with the big men during this summer’s long road to the land of the rising sun, laying down the foundations that will hopefully provide the basis for a successful tournament.

“I’m going to push for as many forwards as we can pick,” said Wilson in St Andrews this week about thefinalsquadannouncement of 31 which will come in September after the four warm-up home and away games against France and Georgia,

“We’ve yet to discuss [the split of squad] yet. There’s a decent amount of arguments for either side, but we still haven’t made those decisions. The next step is to play those matches, that’ll give us really good footage and evidence to make further cuts.”

Four years ago, Vern Cotter went with 17 forwards and 14 backs in his final selection but, at this moment, Wilson is simply relishing having close to a full complement of forwards to work with.

The former Cardiff Blues coach has had to deal with some injury-decimated squads, both last November and in the Six Nations just gone, since he took up the role under Townsend last summer.

“I’m seeing a Scotland squad that, touch wood, is all fit and I’m seeing lots of com