Scotland’s success shows up Gatland’s major failings

GREGOR TOWNSEND’S honeymoon period as Scotland coach got even better with a famous win Down Under.

After the despair of two nail-biting defeats to Australia in the last two matches – one, the thrilling Rugby World Cup quarter-final – Scotland exacted their revenge in some style.

The tourists started well and built up a lead which they never surrendered.

The most scintillating score came from Hamish Watson, who finished off a move that had all of the Townsend hallmarks – dynamic support play, precise passing and clinical finishing. It was exhilarating to watch. Yet the Wallabies are never a side who are going to give up, and in the latter stages of the game, they threw wave after wave of attacks on the Scottish line.

Such was the aggression and combativeness of the Scots defence, each attack was repelled and, better still, at times countered.

This Scottish team was not going to make the same mistakes as they had done in their two previous matches against the same opponents.

What was particularly noticeable was the impact that the bench made.

WP Nel, so often the cornerstone of the Scottish pack, came on and was immovable, while his countryman, Josh Strauss was relentless in getting over the gain-line from the back of the scrum and allowing his team-mates to clear the lines.

It was heroic and left you wondering why there weren’t more of these players selected for the original Lions squad.

Thankfully common sense has prevailed and Finn Russell will be joining the touring party, along with Allan Dell.

Meanwhile across the Tasman Sea, Warren Gatland’s Lions had an up-anddown week, both on and off the field.

The midweek team were put to the sword again, losing to the Highlanders in Dunedin, while the Saturday side easily defeated a scratch Maori side.

With only seven more days until the first Test, Gatland is coming under pressure from the New Zealand press, as well as British, following on from his bizarre selection of replacements, many of whom have never been heard of.

This latter issue is one which will vex many former Lions, including myself.

Gatland has immediately devalued the most-cherished of jerseys by handing it to people who happened to be local, rather than those who had worked hard for and deserved the honour of being called a Lion.

There were noises of dissent emerging from the camp, and if they are true, this move will only add fuel to the fire.

It makes winning the first Test against the All Blacks even more daunting.