EXPECTING TO FLY IN PARIS
‘Every try is exactly the same. There have been some crackers along the way but you don’t get extra points for the flashy ones!’
THERE is an excitement about Stuart Hogg that carries Scotland into the Stade de France today aiming to emulate the country’s most thrilling rugby performance of the past 20 years. In 1999, Jim Telfer led a Scotland side to Paris battered but unbowed from an entertaining final Five Nations Championship, and encouraged his team to play with confidence and run the French ragged.
After an agonising 24-21 defeat to England at Twickenham, the title seemed out of our grasp, despite wins over Wales and Ireland — and Italy, then just a friendly — but no one expected what came next.
France opened the scoring with a try in the second minute, but lost playmaker Thomas Castaignede to injury in the process.
Scotland stuck to their plan of moving the ball at every opportunity and, after Martin Leslie responded with their first try seven minutes later, the visitors would go on to attack from everywhere and score a stunning four tries in the next 18 minutes.
The pack set the platform and ensured quick ball, and a back line of Gary Armstrong, Gregor Townsend, centres John Leslie and Alan Tait, wings Kenny Logan and Cammie Murray, and full-back Glenn Metcalfe — along with two-try flanker Martin Leslie — did the rest.
That was the Saturday — and on the Sunday, Wales’ Scott Gibbs snatched a late victory from England’s grasp at Wembley and duly handed the Five Nations crown to the Scots.
The similarities to this team, aiming to become the first Scoland side to win a Six Nations game in Paris, are eerie.
For skipper Armstrong, read captain Greig Laidlaw, from the same town. The former was 32 and the latter is 31, so at a similar point of experience, nous and leadership.
For Townsend, read Finn Russell, a stand-off with ambition, running flair and confidence.
For Leslie and Tait, read Alex Dunbar and Huw Jones, a straightrunning 12 and quick, elusive 13. Confidence is and was running high in the wings — and then we come to the full-backs.
Metcalfe did not score that day 18 years ago in Paris, but he created at least three scores with his running, one from an 80-metre break from his 22, that sparked apoplexy in the French defence. The current France side would appear better than its ’99 counterpart, and yet that one was coming off a championship triumph in 1998 — including a 51-16 hiding of Scotland at Murrayfield — whereas Guy Noves’ side is building back from murky depths.
France showed against England last weekend that they are a more cohesive, disciplined and accurate team than in recent seasons. They will rarely be more motivated than when bidding for a first tournament win in their first home match.
But, like 1999, Scotland again have a free-running 15 who genuinely scares them and caps arguably the first dangerous entire Scotland back-line since then.
Being like that team will count for nothing come kick-off and this French side, led by peerless back row Louis Picamoles, will be nowhere near as abject defensively as their ’99 brethren. Despite that, the Scotland performance then remains an inspiration for the way the current team would like to take on Les Bleus.
‘I’ve seen a fair bit of footage over the years,’ said Hogg, acknowledging that he was just six when his now Glasgow coach Townsend was tormenting the French.
‘It’s very unfortunate that was the last time we won there, so we’re looking forward to making it right this weekend.
‘We want to attack and score tries but everything starts up front. If we can get good set-piece, then the back three will get a lot of the ball and that’s what we’re after.
‘Everyone has a role within the squad and, if we do our jobs, then we will score a lot of tries. But if we stand back and admire their work, then we’ll be in for a long day. Defensively, we must get into their faces, shut them down and, if we get opportunities in attack, we need to make the most of them to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
‘We hope to play like that (1999 performance), because it takes three or four tries in the modern game to get victories, so we need to be in a position to finish off tries.’
Today Hogg earns his 50th cap, so he will lead the team out into the Stade de France. The Borderer has reached the milestone quickly, having made his debut at 19 and steered clear of major injury.
Another 19-year-old debutant, Townsend — Scotland’s record cap-holder when forced into retirement aged 30 by then coach Matt Williams — and Chris Paterson were both 26 when they won their 50th caps, and new centurion Ross Ford was 27 on his 50th in the 2011 World Cup.
Paterson reached 109 and Ford will earn his 104th cap today, so he could set a new mark this year.
Still only 24, Hogg could take the record out of sight. But of more value to Scotland right now is what he has learned in his first five years in the Test arena, as the rollercoaster ride from stunning tries, man-of-the-match displays and a Lions tour to the humbling of a red card, threatening to quit his club and being called out by referee Nigel Owens for diving have rounded him into a player that the best opponents genuinely fear.
He picked his debut off the bench in Cardiff as his career highlight to
date, stating: ‘The dream is to play for Scotland, so to do that was just unbelievable, not just for myself, but for my family as well. ‘In terms of highlights, last weekend was definitely up there. It was a phenomenal performance, not complete by any means, but that’s the exciting thing — not everything was perfect but we still won the game. ‘Looking back, I am a lot more experienced since back then (2012). There have been some highs and some lows, a lot of learning done along the way. I keep going on about it but it’s about having fun in a Scotland jersey and winning games. Using the experiences. I had to learn pretty quickly, but this is a very exciting time.’
Asked for the most memorable of his 15 Test tries to date, he insisted: ‘Every try is exactly the same. There have been some crackers along the way but you don’t get extra points for the flashy ones.’
When one journalist queried his red card against Wales as the low point, he cut off his questioner midsentence with: ‘Yeah, end of!’
He is growing and maturing with this team into a world-class talent.
That may or may not be good enough to beat a powerful and resurgent France today, but as was the case with Townsend, Metcalfe et al in 1999 Scottish fans will take their seats in the Stade de France sensing excitement coming their way.