SET UP TO DO REAL DAMAGE
The return of Barclay a sign Scots will attack
ANATURALLY wary character who understands the damage that awaits any team ill-prepared for the odd opposition curveball, Vern Cotter would never be so glib as to dismiss England or their new head coach as a virtual irrelevance.
With all due respect, that kind of arrogance is normally reserved for some of the followers to be found trailing behind the visiting chariot on these Calcutta Cup weekends in Edinburgh.
Amid Cotter’s instinctive concern about the potential surprises being planned by Eddie Jones and his backroom staff, however, the Scotland head coach is keen to stress one point.
‘We won’t particularly worry about them,’ said the Kiwi ahead of his second Six Nations campaign.
‘Yes, we know England may do one or two things. But we’re looking at ourselves and concentrating on playing well together. Playing for each other.
‘When we tick those boxes, we will hopefully have half a smile on our faces.
‘These boys are getting a chance to play for the Calcutta Cup. What an occasion it is. And they’re focusing on doing things as well as possible for as long as possible.’
The much-trailed return of John Barclay to the starting XV is quite a comeback for a player deemed not good enough for Cotter’s World Cup squad.
It’s really the only unforced change made by a Scotland staff now augmented by the addition of backs coach Jason O’Halloran and breakdown and contact specialist Richie Gray, the Borders boy who had to travel the globe before his talents were recognised back home.
Barclay’s inclusion at blindside flanker, as good a human story as it is, may actually be more notable for what it says about Scotland’s approach to this game.
He’s in there because his first and best instincts are to pick a pass to one of the free-running backs upon whom so much rests.
Barclay has been playing in the more attacking role of No 8 for Scarlets and, to quote Cotter, ‘has the skill set for that position.’
With the outstanding David Denton immovable in that spot and the tireless John Hardie on the openside, plus Blair Cowan on the bench, Cotter has a back-row unit capable of doing real damage to England.
Crediting Barclay for forcing his way back, Cotter said: ‘It’s down to what John himself has done — and the ability he has.
‘John Hardie has been playing very well at seven. But John Barclay’s experience at seven, his ability all over the park... he’s got the ability to back up someone like that.
‘And he’s a good link player. So it’s good to have someone who can make that pass and combine with the backs. That’s what he offers us.’
If all sports eventually break down into a conflict between the romantics and cynics, rugby is hardly immune.
At the moment, there is a theory that big, bruising, head-on collisions are squeezing the flair out of the game. Especially in a short, sharp competition like the Six Nations where risks must be minimised.
Cotter stands proudly against this school of thought — even if he does intend to hit England hard, fast and in exactly the areas targeted as weak points.
‘ You still want to keep your creativity and we’ve certainly got players that are exciting and creative,’ he said.
‘It’s looking at opportunities and making sure we create some more as well. It’s a mixture of both. You’ve got to be able to play as things unfold in front of you. The key will be what we do together. They’ll want to dominate us.
‘I don’t see why we shouldn’t take them on in their strong points and see if things open up because of it.
‘We certainly don’t want to make it easy for them. We know where they’ll be coming at us. And these players are competitive, they’ll want to have a go and stand up to England.
‘We’ve worked hard at certain parts of the game. Richie Gray has been helping us with his contact knowledge, which will be important.
‘With the Six Nations offering limited preparation time, it’s good to have your defence and contact zones ready to go.’
Gray’ s background as an opposition analyst, specifically tasked with identifying fleeting moments of weakness, has also been seized on
by Cotter. He has already done prep on many of England’s players in his most recent job with South Africa, as well as picking apart Scotland for the Springboks ahead of their World Cup meeting.
Gray will only have been required to update his knowledge of England, despite the arrival of Jones and righthand man Steve Borthwick following Stuart Lancaster’s departure.
‘We know he (Jones) has taken Borthwick with him from Japan and know how they prepared for us during the World Cup,’ said Cotter. ‘Will he bring in some Saracens characteristics? I think so. Eddie was involved there with Borthwick.
‘So we’re looking at George Ford’s controlling of a game. We know how he likes to play with England and Bath.
‘I think (Jones) will try to surprise us with something we haven’t seen somewhere along the line. That’s part of the challenge.’