There’s plenty to look forward to in 2018... and a Murrayfield win over the Auld Enemy would make it a year to remember
Last season Scotland won their three home games against Ireland, Wales and Italy but lost away to France and heavily to England.
This time they have Ireland, Wales and Italy away and France and England at home.
That is a tough set of fixtures but cheered on by the Murrayfield crowd they can secure wins over the French and the Auld Enemy, which would be a result to really savour.
It is about time Scotland started winning on the road and with Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell in the side they can make it happen.
They have nothing to fear from taking on Wales in Cardiff in their opening Six Nations fixture on February 3. Win that one and it is all systems go for a title challenge.
Ross Ford to drop off the radar leaving Fraser Brown and Stuart McInally fighting it out over the Scotland hooker’s starting jersey.
Ford has been missing for four months following shoulder surgery but even if he had been fit he would still be third choice for Scotland behind Brown and McInally.
Going into the new year, it is advantage McInally based on his performances against Brown in the two derby matches.
The Edinburgh man was captain courageous in his side’s 18-17 win over Glasgow just before Christmas when he outplayed Brown.
It was shaping up to be a closer head to head at Scotstoun before Brown had to go off after just half an hour with a head knock.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has a tough decision to make over who to name as his starting hooker for the Six Nations.
John Barclay to remain Scotland captain for all of 2018 and to benefit from his move back to Scotland.
Barclay will leave the Scarlets in Wales in the summer after signing a two-year deal with Edinburgh. The Scotland coaching team have made no secret of their delight in having him under their noses at Murrayfield.
They see Barclay as the man to lead Scotland into the 2019 World Cup in Japan even if Greig Laidlaw is available for selection.
Having Barclay back in Scotland will mean they can talk to him regularly and more importantly manage his game time. That will keep the 31-year-old fresh for major tournaments like the Six Nations.
Richie Gray will struggle to win back his Scotland starting place.
It was good news that Gray played 80 minutes for Toulouse for the first time in four months at the weekend following back surgery.
The big second row had an injury plagued 2017 and last played for Scotland in the Six Nations defeat to England back in March.
In his time away, his younger brother Jonny has improved as a player and Grant Gilchrist looks back to his best. Add into the selection mix the likes of Ben Toolis, Tim Swinson and the emergence of Scott Cummings and it is no foregone conclusion that the British and Irish Lion will be picked for Six Nations matches.
÷Scotland will win all three of their summer tour matches against Canada, USA and Argentina.
Canada and the USA should be easily beaten, with the final tour match against Argentina being the toughest. Scotland have gone to South America before and won — and they can do it again.
Winning three out of three is vital for Townsend’s team to show they can be consistent away from home.
Last summer they beat Italy in Singapore and Australia in Sydney before crashing back down to earth following a disappointing defeat to Fiji.
Two out of three wins won’t be acceptable this year.
÷John Hardie won’t play for Scotland again.
There is no questioning the talent of the openside flanker who played well for Scotland in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Since then he has provided the only real competition for Hamish Watson for the No 7 jersey with Edinburgh and Scotland.
Currently suspended until the end of January amid allegations of cocaine use, it will be a real test of character if Hardie can return to the level he was at before his ban.
There is also no guarantee that Townsend will be forgiving and may be reluctant to pick him again.
÷Matt Fagerson and Scott Cummings to win their first caps for Scotland.
Fagerson was one of Glasgow’s top performers in their 17-0 win over Edinburgh. Still only 19 years old, he has time on his side. It should not be too long before the young back-row player joins his brother Zander in the Scotland team, most probably on the summer tour.
Cummings is benefiting playing alongside Jonny Gray at Glasgow and can renew that partnership with Scotland. A top-class lineout jumper, he has the mobility that is required of all international forwards.
÷Edinburgh to progress to at least the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup.
Edinburgh need to beat Stade Francais once or pick up two losing bonus points against them in their closing Challenge Cup fixtures to qualify for the knock-out stages.
That is well within their capabilities but it will depend on the luck of the draw if they go any further.
Richard Cockerill has shown he can put the fire into his side for big one-off games. The way they beat Glasgow after having to play for 74 minutes with 14 men is testament to that.
Apart from Newcastle Falcons, other clubs who top their groups such as Pau, Connacht and Cardiff Blues are easily beatable.
There are also places in the draw for the three best runners-up. That could be Lyon, Bordeaux, Worcester Warriors or Gloucester. These are much tougher propositions.
If the draw is kind, Edinburgh can make the semi-finals at least — but the two French clubs and Gloucester are likely to be too strong.
÷Glasgow to make the final of the Guinness Pro14.
Eleven league wins out of 12 means Glasgow are all but guaranteed a place in the play-offs already. Staying in top place in Conference A of the Pro14 means they would enter the knock-out competition at the semi-final stage and will have home advantage.
That is a massive incentive for Dave Rennie’s team to keep their good run of form going till the end of the season.
There are so many top clubs in the league any final could go either way. If Glasgow make it, which they should, they could face Leinster or Munster in Dublin on April 28 which would be very tough.
÷Doddie Weir will continue to inspire.
The former Scotland international, who has Motor Neurone Disease, has a special place in the heart of rugby fans. The most poignant moment of 2017 was when Doddie delivered the match ball ahead of the New
Zealand match in november. He will continue to campaign and raise funds for research into MnD this year, and will continue to inspire everyone.
÷Finn Russell will be a huge success in France.
The scotland fly-half leaves Glasgow Warriors in the summer for a bigmoney contract at racing 92 in Paris. He has been signed as a direct replacement for All Black World Cup winner Dan Carter. You can always expect the unexpected from russell which will endear him to French fans who love players who play with a bit of flair and daring. With a big pack of forwards in front of him, russell will see a lot of the ball and he will be a big hit.
÷The SRU will continue to try and buy a club in the English Premiership.
They have never publicly explained why they made a bid to take over Aviva Premiership side Worcester Warriors.
it is assumed that the sru want to place scottish players there to give them experience of playing in the English Premiership.
on top of that, the sru would love a slice of the television monies available to clubs in England for big matches.
no deal has yet been done and Worcester Warriors are still on the market. Whether the sru fails to seal the deal or not, they will continue to try and get a stake in an English side.
÷The ‘Super Six’ will continue to divide opinion.
sru chief executive Mark Dodson wants to set up a six-club semi-professional league.
He feels creating a middle-tier in scottish rugby will narrow the gap between the professional set-up at Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors and the amateur game.
Dodson is putting the sru’s money where his mouth is and the governing body will partly fund the clubs chosen to move from amateur to semi-professional status.
Those against the plan, such as Boroughmuir head coach Peter Wright, believe the six clubs chosen will sweep up all the best amateur players and leave the rest bereft of talent.
That would further reduce the quality of the amateur game outwith the ‘super six’ and be another nail in its coffin, according to the former scotland international.
÷The most anticipated game for non-Scots will be England against New Zealand.
The match at Twickenham in november will be the first time they have met since 2014, when the All Blacks won a three-match Test series and one autumn Test match.
With six nations champions England on the ascendancy under Eddie Jones, they will fancy their chances of beating the world champions on home turf.
The best team in the northern hemisphere against the best in the southern hemisphere promises to be a cracker.