The storm has passed, the floodwaters have receded and the prospects of Scottish rugby can continue to be built on the banks of the river.
The water that has gone under the bridge over the previous eight months since Scotland’s last Six Nations match, both on and off the pitch, has been of oceanic proportions.
Finally, after a long wait holed up inside, rugby fans can finally sit back and see where the fortunes of international rugby are headed.
Scotland go to Llanelli on Saturday to face Wales in the final round of the 2020 Six Nations looking to get their first win on Welsh soil since 2002 (eleven attempts).
Form says this is unlikely to happen, however these are strange times and, like everything else, this fixture has been turned on its head.
For the first time since 1998 – when the two sides met at Wembley in the Five Nations – Wales will be playing away from the fortress that is the Millennium Stadium, without fans, and with the Welsh in a bit of a rebuild, Scotland’s prospects are looking the best they have in years.
-Match report: Scotland beat Wales in Wales for first time in 18 years
In eight months Scotland seemed to have gone from an also-ran disaster to now being everyone’s dark horse.
As Spring rose the squad looked depleted and fractured. As the Autumn leaves fall the squad looks bolstered and over-burdened with talent.
Special shout-out goes to the club exploits of Finn Russell, the Champions Cup runner-up, and Stuart Hogg, Sam Skinner and Jonny Gray, part of the all-conquering Exeter Chiefs.
It’ll be interesting to see the impact of additions Duhan van der Merwe and Australian born Ratu Tagive on the squad.
Scotland have real talent in their ranks.
Versus Wales on Saturday might be a little early to see how that talent gels, but the next months are looking very interesting for Scottish rugby.
Questions will prevail: can Russell and Hastings play in the same team? Can Russell fit into a disciplined Townsend structure? Can Russell and Townsend have a beer together?
Tournament recap
Gm1. 19-12 loss to Ireland (A) 01/02/20: First game of the tournament which was always going to be a tall order to win, however the scoreline belays the hazy truth. Townsend’s men were the better side for large chunks of the game and Scotland wouldn’t have been far wrong to come away feeling Ireland got away with one in Dublin.
Gm2. 13-6 loss to England (H) 08/02/20: A match marred by Ciara. The storm turned the contest into a slog fest and took much of the competition out the game.
Gm3. 17-0 victory against Italy (A) 22/02/20: An expected victory in what is becoming the perennial whipping boys of the competition.
Gm4. 28-17 victory against France (H) 08/03/20: At that point the French were looking good for the slam, but a revved up Scotland, aided by the lunacy of tighthead Mohamed Haouas, sadly put an end to French dreams.
Player to watch: Finn Russell
Who else? The mercurial fly-half is back in the squad and from the smiles on the pitch during the victory over Georgia last Friday, everything seems to be running smoothly again.
No player in international rugby personifies the mysterious condiment that is Marmite more so than Russell.
When he’s good he’s near genius, but his mistakes are often fatal – as they were for Racing against Exeter in the Champions Cup Final at Ashton Gate two weeks ago.
Excitement will be ramped up to maximum for Scottish fans seeing how Racing’s number ten plays with fellow fly-half Adam Hastings, who has been an exemplary replacement for Russell in his absence for most of the tournament.
Match recap: Scotland 29 – 13 Wales, Murrayfield, 25 Feb 2017
Scotland’s last victory against the Welsh was in 2017 at Murrayfield when Vern Cotter’s side ended Wales’ nine game win streak against the Scots in the competition.
Finn Russell was in imperious form that day kicking five penalties and two conversions to lead Scotland to a 29-13 victory.
Wales were off-colour that year being coached in the interim by Rob Howley whilst Warren Gatland was on Lions’ duty. The red dragons would end up having a disastrous campaign, finishing a lowly fifth, four points behind Scotland who ended fourth.
Round 5 of the 2020 Six Nations, Wales v Scotland, Saturday 31 October, Parc y Scarlets, 2.15pm KO
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 