NOW IT’S TIME TO WALK THE WALK
Biggar has stoked the flames... but this is the perfect chance for Scotland to show they can handle the heat
IF GREGOR Townsend was planning to deliver any sort of Churchillian speech to inspire his players prior to kick-off this afternoon, he can safely stand down.
The job has already been done. Whatever extra source of motivation the Scotland players may have needed has come straight from the mouth of an opponent.
Not for the first time, Dan Biggar has put the boot into Scotland. Just 12 months ago in Cardiff, he kicked 15 points in a man-of-thematch display as Wales won 20-17.
on this occasion, Biggar has decided to get stuck into the Scots before the on-field hostilities have even commenced, stoking the flames as the wounded Welsh dragons travel north.
Stopping just fractionally short of branding Scotland as outright bottle merchants, Biggar has openly questioned the nerve of Townsend’s side and their ability to back-up big results.
In his own words, all the pressure will be on Scotland to win this afternoon — and you’d have to say he’s pretty much spot-on with that assessment.
While Biggar’s comments will no doubt ruffle a few feathers in the home dressing room, any element of controversy should not cloud the fact that he’s largely speaking the truth.
In any sort of ‘show us your medals’ tit-for-tat, Scotland come off second best against Wales — and by a long way.
This is how others see us. Scotland are viewed as a team who over-promise but under-deliver all too often.
All talk and no trousers; a team who retain the capacity to deliver spectacular one-off results, but lack the ruthless consistency to actually challenge for silverware.
That must change this afternoon. For all the euphoria that followed last weekend’s thrilling victory at Twickenham, a win over Wales would be every bit as significant.
Why? Never before in the Six Nations era have Scotland won each of their opening two games. You have to go all the way back to 1996 to find the last time it happened.
Given that Ireland and France will unleash all sorts of hell on each other in Dublin this afternoon, Scotland should — yes, should — be one of only two teams still in the hunt for the Grand Slam come full-time at Murrayfield.
No ifs, no buts, no maybes. Any other outcome would be a huge anti-climax and another instance of Townsend’s side choking under the pressure in this game of great expectations.
After beating england in the opener last year, they fluffed their lines in Cardiff the following weekend against a bang-average Wales team who were there for the taking.
In 2021, and in the same sequence of fixtures, Calcutta Cup success was followed by a 25-24 loss to the Welsh at Murrayfield in round two.
A repeat scenario today would puncture the sense of optimism that has built around this Scotland team on the back of them conquering Twickenham with such swashbuckling style.
It would be another instance of Scotland suffering stage fright when people start mentioning them as contenders for silverware.
Townsend rightly took a lot of credit for his team selection against england. All of his big calls — Ben White, Huw Jones, Kyle Steyn and Co — stepped up and played out of their skin.
Yet, here’s the thing. This meeting with Warren Gatland is paradoxical in so much that Townsend will start as heavy favourite against a coach he has never previously beaten.
Gatland has become Scotland’s nemesis. In a ten-year period under Gatland from 2009-2019, Wales were victorious every time they ventured north to Murrayfield. They owned the place.
Their only defeat, in 2017, came when rob Howley was in charge, with Gatland having turned his attention to that year’s Lions tour.
Gatland has a flawless record against Scotland, winning 11 from 11 as Wales boss. He has dominated this fixture. Indeed, the same can be said of Wales as a whole.
In the Six Nations era, Scotland have only beaten Wales five times in 23 outings. Whatever way you wish to paint it, that’s a fairly pitiful record.
For two countries of similar size and stature, their records are wildly contrasting. Wales have won four Grand Slams over the past 20 years. Scotland, meanwhile, haven’t even come close.
If Scotland can finally beat Gatland and exorcise that particular demon, it would arguably carry even greater significance and show more tangible signs of progress than the win at Twickenham.
Gatland is an old master intent on reshaping this Wales team and whipping them into some sort of shape ahead of the World Cup later this year.
He has been bold with his team selection, leaving out a trio of totemic forwards in Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Talupe Faletau.
That amounts to almost 350 caps’ worth of experience that Gatland has left out as he rings the changes on the back of a sobering 34-10 defeat to Ireland in Cardiff last weekend.
Townsend has been more consistent with his selection, making only one change from last week by recalling Zander Fagerson to replace WP Nel at tighthead.
Fagerson was sent off in this fixture two years ago, red-carded for a high tackle which typified Scotland’s collective loss of composure as they blew a great chance of victory.
Scotland know their discipline must be squeaky clean this afternoon against a Welsh team who will be hurting after such a bruising defeat against the Irish.
Curiously, former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton spoke earlier this week about how he fully expects Scotland to get the job done.
‘Scotland don’t get bullied anymore,’ said Warburton, reflecting on the victory at Twickenham, which was built on a brilliantly belligerent defence as much as attacking ambition.
Duhan van der Merwe steamrollered his way to the try-line and, along with Stuart Hogg and Finn russell, was name-checked this week by Wales defence coach Mike Forshaw as the men who bring the ‘X Factor’ to this team.
Scotland won last week with russell largely in second gear for much of the match, but don’t expect him to be quiet for too long.
Gatland has spoken in the build-up about how russell is no longer a ‘maverick’ type of player, but a fly-half at the peak of his powers. The same could be said of Biggar 12 months ago.
But, as we get to grips with the idea of a Netflix documentary around the Six Nations, perhaps an episode of Come Dine With Me might also fit the bill.
Scotland are hosting, Biggar is the guest, and a slice of humble pie might well be on the menu if all goes to plan.