Watson well aware that away form will determine Scots’ fate
GARY HEATLY talks to openside Hamish Watson about the challenges ahead
Hamish Watson knows that for Scotland to be considered serious Six Nations title challengers they have to start winning tough away matches and take their game “to the next level”, starting in Cardiff on Saturday.
Last year the Scots won three matches in the showpiece event, but they were all at home. In the next couple of months they have three away trips against Wales, Ireland and Italy meaning they have to hit the ground running at the Principality Stadium first up.
Scotland have not returned from Cardiff victorious since 2002, but 26-year-old openside Watson believes the squad are in a good place heading into this one.
“The challenge of the Six Nations is very different from anything else we face,” the 15cap Edinburgh flanker said.
“In the autumn you have back-to-back home matches with your own fans behind you and we sold out Murrayfield for every game.
“This year we’re got three away games so they’ll be very tough. It’s hard to go away to those places, to Wales, Dublin and Italy, and we’re going to have some tough away games but we’ve got a very good squad and we’re capable of getting those away wins.
“We have to build around away wins and go to tricky places and take some scalps.
“People keep telling us about the poor Cardiff record, but you know we have been improving, we went to Australia last summer and got a result and that has always been a tough place to win.
“We have grown as a squad, in the last Six Nations we had a few boys who were just coming into the set-up, everyone is a bit more experienced this time around.
“This squad has been together now for a good year and I think we are capable of getting big away wins.
“We can’t get ahead of ourselves because every team in this tournament will be very tough. We have a lot of experienced people in the squad, but we still have a lot to work on and must keep our feet on the ground.
“No one is getting complacent and this week, our first in camp, we have had some really hard training sessions. Gregor Townsend knows what he wants and as a group we want to take things to the next level now.” When Scotland won 27-22 in Cardiff back in 2002 current head coach Gregor Townsend was playing. So was back rower Budge Pountney and the former Scotland skipper believes Watson and current captain John Barclay will be key figures on Saturday. “Watson and Barclay have both have playing brilliantly,” the 44-year-old Pountney said. “Hamish is great to watch, he is powerful, fast and completely fearless which are great traits for a seven. “Barclay looks to be enjoying his captaincy responsibilities and his form hasn’t been affected, so I expect his senior team mates are working around the squad to help him out.”