Hogg and Co have chance to inspire a whole nation

NATURALLY, I am an optimistic person and every year as we head into the Six Nations I get excited about Scotland’s chances. And coming off the back of eight players and two coaches being on last year’s British & Irish Lions trips, some good wins in the 2021 tournament, increased squad depth and key players like Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell being on form, I am certainly in a positive frame of mind with the opening weekend of the 2022 event just a few days away.

As always, the big thing for Scotland is going to be whether they can back up good performances with further good performances.

Last year, we won at Twickenham for the first time in 38 years before giving away a lead and slipping up against Wales in round two just seven days later.

A win in that Wales game would have seen Scotland right up there competing for the title, so while they are certainly capable of finishing top come March 19 this time around, they cannot be thinking that far ahead yet.

Indeed, the only thing on the players’ minds as they get together this week will be Saturday’s England match at BT Murrayfield.

Captain Hogg (inset) talks often about inspiring a nation and, after the tough two years we have all had during the pandemic, one sure-fire way to do that is by retaining the Calcutta Cup.

The sold-out stadium is going to be bouncing at 4.45pm on Saturday and whether it still will be come 6.45pm is down to whether Scotland can put in a full 80-minute performance that we all know they are capable of.

There is a growing maturity in the squad now with the likes of Hogg and Russell just that bit older now and guys like Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson and Ali Price comfortable in leadership roles.

The Wales and Ireland defeats were tough to take last year, but the team bounced back to win in Paris and then beat Australia in the autumn.

The thing is though that, as Scotland keep improving, so do England, Wales, Ireland and France with the latter probably being the best team in the world just now. Without Owen Farrell involved, different challenges will be thrown at Scotland by England this year with Marcus Smith likely to be at stand-off, but Gregor Townsend is very meticulous in his planning and he will leave no stone unturned.

As I mentioned, the depth in the current Scottish squad is as good as it has been for years and when Townsend can afford to leave a player of the quality of Adam Hastings out it shows just that.

I would have had Adam in the wider squad, he has never let Scotland down, but Townsend clearly backs Blair Kinghorn to back-up Russell at stand-off and certainly he has done well in the new position for Edinburgh.

In terms of the matchday 23 for the England game, well as we know Gregor likes to keep us all on our toes and there are a number of players vying to be involved. Tighthead prop Zander Fagerson, back-rows Ritchie and Watson, halfbacks Price and Russell, centre Chris Harris and back-three men Duhan van der Merwe and Hogg look certain to start, but other spots are not so clear cut.

Matt Fagerson played No8 in last year’s tournament, but he has others such as Magnus Bradbury and Josh Bayliss breathing down his neck while Rory Darge will come into the back-row conversation.

He has been in outstanding form for Glasgow in the number seven jersey and he could make a real impact off the bench for Scotland.

Gregor seems to like Cameron Redpath at 12 but he was out injured recently and Sam Johnson has also done well in that position.

There are wingers competing for a spot, but I imagine Gregor will go with Darcy Graham to complement Hogg and Van der Merwe.

If Scotland are to win the opener, then they have to get the ball to the latter as much as they can because Van der Merwe is box office and has that ‘X-factor’ about him.

It is going to be a brilliant few weeks for rugby fans, as always, and I believe Scotland do have it in them to compete. First and foremost, it is about a good start and then building momentum.