Scotland can dare to dream this time
THE one thing guaranteed in this year’s Six Nations is that Scotland won’t be battling to avoid the wooden spoon. This time round Scottish fans should be daring to dream rather than worry about finishing bottom.
Gregor Townsend’s team may not win the tournament — it’s going to be tight — but there’s no reason why they can’t mount their best-ever title challenge.
They have all the building blocks in place required to beat their rivals, even tournament favourites England. A look through Townsend’s squad shows why Scotland have what it takes to be contenders.
Any country that challenges for the Six Nations always needs world-class stars. Scotland tick the boxes in that department with Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell.
Title contenders also need strength in depth in the second row if they’re to win lots of important set-piece ball. The Scots are well catered for there, with Grant Gilchrist, Ben Toolis and the Gray brothers, Jonny and Richie.
Any back row which includes John Barclay and Hamish Watson has to be feared. And the cutting edge needed to run in the tries is provided by Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones and Sean Maitland.
Meanwhile, things aren’t so bad in an injury-hit front row that Scotland can’t compete in that department. Loose-head prop Jamie Bhatti came of age in the November Tests. Gordon Reid, who only missed out on those games with concussion, is back fit and will be his understudy.
Edinburgh hooker Stuart McInally will have George Turner of Glasgow Warriors there to back him up. Scott Lawson, at the age of 36, is in because of his experience and can be used in emergencies.
Tight-head is the only position where there’s a lack of cover but Lawson’s Newcastle Falcons team-mate Jon Welsh has been in cracking form this season.
The problems might begin when either of the two uncapped players, Murray McCallum or D’Arcy Rae, has to enter the fray.
Townsend has introduced an exciting style of play to a Scotland team who nearly beat New Zealand in November. Tactically, he’s astute enough to get the better of Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones.
Win away to Wales in the first Six Nations match — which is well within Scotland’s capabilities — and the show will really be on the road.
Next up is France at home and then England at Murrayfield, with neither fixture likely to frighten the Scots. Ireland in Dublin could be their toughest game, while Italy away should be a cakewalk.
These are exciting times for Scottish rugby. Everyone should dare to dream.