CAN ‘STERN VERN’ BRING A SMILE TO AS HE BIDS THEM FAREWELL?
COACH: VERN COTTER: Montpellier bound, the Kiwi heads into his final tournament boasting a creditable 52 percent winning record with the Scots. Cotter feels he has unfinished business, but has vowed to leave the national side in better shape than when he arrived. CAPTAIN: GREIG LAIDLAW: Been at the helm for a while now and the 56-cap Gloucester half-back remains an integral figure. Nominated for the world player of the year in 2015, he will be desperate for long-awaited success. KEY MAN: STUART HOGG: Last year’s player of the tournament is a coruscating counter-attacking runner blessed with footballing ability befitting a member of the George Best gene pool. YOUNGSTER TO WATCH: ZANDER FAGERSON: The 20-year-old Glasgow tight-head shone in the D URING his time in Clermont he earned the nickname ‘les yeux de glace’ (eyes of ice), then ‘Stern Vern’ when he pitched up in Scotland, so don’t expect a big emotional farewell from departing head coach Vern Cotter when the curtain comes down on his three-year tenure at the end of this Six Nations.
You sense it will be these next six or seven weeks that will define the Cotter reign, especially as he has assembled a talented squad that his successor Gregor Townsend will relish inheriting.
Too often Scotland have struggled to cope with expectations and although the bookies are tipping them for fifth, they undoubtedly possess the attacking firepower for a top-half finish. The question is, do they have the belief?
Certainly, if Stuart Hogg can again dazzle from full-back and the talented Finn Russell transfer his club form to the Test stage, they will be a real threat to the favoured sides. recent Champions Cup demolition of Leicester and is set to get his chance in the spotlight in the absence of the injured WP Nel. STRENGTHS: The off-loading mantra of Glasgow side gives the Scots an attacking edge they have lacked in past campaigns. The Gray brothers are a hard-working boilerhouse pairing, while Laidlaw is a high-percentage goal-kicker. WEAKNESSES: We are still waiting to see the perennial dark horses arrive among the front-runners and every campaign seems to be an accompanied by a Scotland hardluck story. The loss of Nel could destabilise the Scottish scrum, while they can also be defensively fragile. KEY INJURIES: Nel has been ruled out of the tournament with a neck injury, while fellow prop Alasdair Dickinson is also absent. Back-rower Dave Denton is still not at full fitness. LAST TIME OUT: Fourth with two victories, in Rome and home to France. Had chances to derail England in round one at Murrayfield. ORDER OF GAMES: Ireland (Edinburgh), France (Paris), Wales (Edinburgh), England (Twickenham), Italy (Edinburgh). WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “Ireland (in the first game) is a really big challenge for our guys. Joe (Schmidt, Ireland coach) is a really good friend and we’ll probably have a beer afterwards. Unfortunately, he’s always the one with the smile on his face - and I’d like it to stop. I’d like to get one back on him.” WHAT MOOD ARE THE FANS IN: Steady progress has provided encouragement north of the border. But, and apologies to the great Bill McLaren here, don’t expect them to be dancing in the streets of Hawick. LIONS CERTAINTIES: Hogg. Stuart LIONS HOPEFULS: Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw, WP Nel, Huw Jones, John Hardie. AN OUTSIDE LIONS BOLTER OUT TO WOW GATLAND: Mark Bennett – A member of Team GB’s Olympic silver medal winning sevens squad, the Glasgow centre is strong, pacy with a canny eye for the whitewash. DID YOU KNOW: Glasgow Warriors (17) have more representatives in this season’s Six Nations than any other side. BOOKIES PREDICTION: Fifth. Given their recent progression, it is surprising to see Scotland as much as 25-1 to win the title. History, though, suggests the bookies won’t be far off. WHAT WE SAY: Cotter has been quick to play down talk of upsetting the tournament favourites, but nobody will be taking Scotland for granted, especially those who saw Glasgow pick apart Leicester at Welford Road. The Scots will put huge stock in the Celtic opener against Ireland at Murrayfield.
ROB LLOYD