Six Nations
Sportsmail’s Three Wise Men analyse a campaign already off to a rocky start
JW: I like the look of Alex Craig, but he is playing in positions we are already covered in. I think the best they can hope for is a run off the bench.
RR: Second-row Alex Craig of Gloucester has a chance, as does winger Kyle Steyn, who was part of Townsend’s World Cup training squad prior to being cut from it before they flew to Japan.
Should Scotland have changed their captain or did Stuart McInally do enough at last year’s World Cup to justify keeping the job?
AN: Stuart McInally didn’t look like he enjoyed captaining Scotland at the World Cup and it affected his performance accordingly. He has a battle with Fraser Brown to be the starting hooker and he should focus on that and being the world-class hooker that we was 18 months ago.
JW: McInally should have been given a start and captaincy against Japan but was on the bench. He was named as skipper for the side at the World Cup for a reason. The captaincy is very hard when your own performance is not at its best but he was still performing in my eyes.
RR: Stuart McInally admitted being captain in the World Cup had affected his mental health and he needed to step away at the end of it. He will be a better player without the burden of the captaincy.
So is Stuart Hogg the right pick to captain Scotland?
AN: Scotland’s best player doesn’t always make the best captain but, in this case, I quite like it. Full-back is not the best position to captain from as he is so far from the action and the referee, but Hoggy can inspire Scotland with his rugby ability, not his tactical or speaking ability. He has experienced players up front that can deliver the game plan, he just needs to be the world-class player he is and lead in that way.
JW: He is one of our genuine world-class players and, if he is playing well, the team will go well too. The challenge with your leader being at the back is his ability to bark at the forwards and dictate how the game unfolds. He will need his pack leader and lieutenants to really step up.
RR: Hogg ticks all the boxes to be captain. You need someone who is guaranteed to start every game and is confident enough to take the role.
What has to change tactically for Scotland to have a good Six Nations?
AN: We need to find another level to our physicality. This will allow us to have a Plan B when Plan A is not working. For over a year now, if the wide attacking rugby doesn’t work, we don’t have an any other way of playing. We need to be able to grind out tough moments, which will allow the other stuff to happen and have an impact on the game.
JW: The first 20 minutes of matches are vital. We can’t afford to let teams get points on the board and force us into playing catch up.
RR: I agree with Jason. Scotland have to start in the right frame of mind and not be chasing the game after a poor start. They were 19-3 down to Ireland in the World Cup opener after just 25 minutes and they simply can’t let that happen again in Dublin.
Where do you think Scotland will finish in the Six Nations table?
AN: Fourth or fifth. JW: Fourth.
RR: Third or fourth.
Who do you think they will beat and lose to in the tournament?
AN: We will beat Italy and we should target our two games at Murrayfield where we have a good recent record. The trouble is, those games are against England, who are one of the best teams in the world and France, who have the potential to be as good. The French have a whole new coaching team that includes Shaun Edwards, who could be the key to turning France around. Our record in Dublin and Cardiff doesn’t give me much confidence of getting anything from those two games.
JW: We will beat France and Italy. I would love us to defeat England but it will require the boys to step up their level two or three notches to trouble the World Cup runners-up.
RR: Beat England and France at home and Italy away. Lose to Ireland and Wales away.
Name your Scotland starting team to take on Ireland?
AN: Stuart Hogg; Sean Maitland, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn; Adam Hastings, Ali Price; Allan Dell, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Cornell du Preez.
JW: Stuart Hogg; Sean Maitland, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Allan Dell, Stuart McInally, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury.
RR: Stuart Hogg; Sean Maitland, Rory Hutchinson, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Allan Dell, Fraser Brown, W P Nel, Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Cornell Du Preez.