You might be accused of being a little mad to say Scotland should be confident going into their second round Six Nations tie against Wales, but the Scots should be confident.
Scotland are on the back of a historic victory over England in Twickenham – first time in 38 years – recording their first win of the campaign, a win which gives the Scots a real opportunity of doing something special at this year’s Six Nations.
The win over England was special in so many ways, not only in the fact that Scotland nicked one over the reigning champions in their own backyard – Twickenham’s a bit more than a five by five bit of grass and a flowerbed, shall we say fortress(?) – it was also the manner of the victory. But we’ve waxed lyrical about this too long and now attention turns to Wales.
Scotland can’t, and won’t, under the astute management of Gregor Townsend, get carried away with the victory in London, and how could they with such a poor record against the Welsh – two wins in fourteen.
However momentum has shifted. Scotland have won four of their last six games, finishing fourth in the Autumn championship and winning the last fixture between the sides in Llanelli in the final round of Six Nations 2020, overcoming another milestone at beating Wales in Wales for the first time in eighteen years.
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For the Welsh things aren’t going as utterly perfect as they did under former coach Warren Gatland – now leading the Lions.
In the twelve years Gatland was Wales coach he led The Dragons to four Six Nations titles, three of them grand slams, in what was one of the great home nations test match sides of all time.
Under Wayne Pivac, who was given the job after Gatland stepped up to the Lions, things haven’t gone as smooth. The New Zealander has inherited a team in need of regeneration with many of the greats of Gatland’s reign the wrong side of their peak.
It is down to Pivac to replace these goliaths of Welsh rugby. Former Lions captain Sam Warburton has retired, whilst although Leigh Halfpenny and record appearance holder Alyn Wyn Jones are still playing, at 32 and 35 they are entering the Autumn of their careers.
The curious incident of the kneel:
Before the England Scotland game there was an incident involving what the media have exasperated into ‘knee gate’ – the kneeling of some players and not others before kick-off in highlighting the continued fight against social injustice. Scotland coach Gregor Townsend explained that some players taking the knee and others not wasn’t down to complex personal ideologies but a simple lapse in communication. Townsend told the BBC Rugby Podcast: “Half the squad didn’t realise some of their teammates and the English players were taking the knee. We were strung out 50metres across the pitch for the anthem for social distancing and that was probably one of the reasons you only saw the players closer to the halfway line taking the knee. It was a real surprise because that hadn’t been discussed as an option. In no other game were we taking the knee. Rugby and the Six Nations and Autumn Nations have declared that we will recognise rugby’s stance against racism and discrimination by putting messages on the screen and to stand and reflect.”
Wales’ form hasn’t been great of late. The Welsh finished fifth, one place behind Scotland in last year’s Six Nations and again finished behind the Scots in the Autumn Nations cup.
It’s not all doom and gloom for the reds though. They did manage to beat Ireland in their opening Six Nations encounter last Saturday – albeit with Ireland playing over an hour with fourteen men after Peter O’Mahony’s dismissal.
However, even with fourteen it was Ireland – brief favourites for the cup after England’s defeat – who dominated territory and looked the more likely to score.
Wales’ war dogs Jones and Halfpenny dragged the dragon over the winning line. Whilst they may not have the speed, power or dexterity of their peak, the Welsh still have one hell of a lot of determination, however Scotland have the trump cards – Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray.
It will make for an intriguing encounter on Saturday. One the Scots will be disappointed if they lose.
Scotland v Wales, Rnd 2 Six Nations 2021, Murrayfield, Saturday 13th, KO 16:45.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 