Scotland can write a new Six Nations script

Alot of Scotland’s Six Nations campaigns seem to merge into one. Most of them can be summed up by pre-tournament optimism turning out to be misplaced and ending up in either a battle against Italy to avoid being last or a mid-table finish at best.

So it really wouldn’t be a great shock if 2017 was the same as all the rest.

However, that’s not going to stop me predicting that this is going to be a better year.

In the past, hopes seemed to be pinned on one or two good players making the difference but we seem to have strength in depth these days.

The form was pretty good in the autumn and our two club sides have been doing well in Europe.

If the Glasgow result at Leicester, in particular, doesn’t fill the Scottish boys with self-belief, nothing will.

As always, the first game is the one that sets the agenda in a tournament that is so short.

Beat Ireland, who are one of the favourites to win the whole thing, on Saturday and there’s a real chance to build momentum.

Even if they don’t win, I don’t think this is a team that will fail to recover from a bad start, as has been the case with so many Scotland sides of the past.

And there’s another reason why I’m expecting Scotland to do well … it would be just like us to win the thing when our head coach is leaving!

A legend, gentleman – and a liar

What a legend Roger Federer is. He has to be classed as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

The Australian Open win will probably be talked about more than any of the others.

The final had everything really. A lot of people thought it might be an anticlimax but Federer and Nadal both delivered.

I love the rivalry between the two of them. It’s exactly how sport should be.

They’re as competitive as it’s possible to be but they have such respect for each other as well.

Federer said in his winning speech he would have quite happily halved first place with Nadal and that just shows you what a gentleman he is – mind you, I’m not sure I believe him!

Aggressive approach

We’re out in Canada this week for a skins event in Banff.

It really is a beautiful part of the country and I always love going back (especially when we’re flying first class and getting a suite each at the Rimrock Resort!). I really enjoy the skins format. Basically each end is a new game. If you have the hammer, you have to score two or more and if you don’t, you have to steal. The dollars go up after every end.

I’m lucky enough to have played in five Continental Cups and played skins matches in them.

There is a bit of a misconception that you have to play aggressive in skins but that’s not always the best way. Simple deuces are all you need and a little more aggression without the hammer.

The three teams we’re up against – Jones, Sweeting and Carey – are all top class so this will be a great event.

In the past, hopes seemed to be pinned on one or two good players making the difference but we seem tohave strength in depth

Picture: Getty Images. Glasgow captain Jonny Gray, right, and Stuart Hogg: two of the men who will surely take huge confidence into Scotland’s Six Nations campaign after the mauling of the Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup last month.