With several key players now in the prime of their careers, Scotland will head into this year’s Six Nations with a squad who are in the sweetspot for Test match rugby.
The likes of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, Zander Fagerson and Blair Kinghorn could all be in a British & Irish Lions starting XV on the summer tour of Australia.
Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham won’t be far behind them and, together, they are two of the most lethal wingers in the game.
Throw Huw Jones into the mix and Scotland’s array of firepower in the backline would be the envy of most teams in world rugby.
Gregor Townsend now has the perfect blend of talent and experience from which to select. The age, experience and profile of this squad is absolutely where it needs to be if Scotland are to challenge for silverware.
When Townsend named his 37-man squad for the Six Nations, there was no shouting from the rooftops or bold declarations about what Scotland will achieve.
Scotland are heading into the Six Nations with a squad in a sweetspot for Test match rugby
Duhan van der Merwe (right) and Darcy Graham (left) are two of the most lethal wingers around
Gregor Townsend now has the perfect blend of talent and experience from which to select
Scotland are wise not to fall into that trap any more. Gone are the days when they would bang on about playing the fastest rugby in the world, only to over-promise and under-deliver far too often.
Instead, Townsend was understated. There was a quiet acceptance to this being the most talented and settled Scotland squad he’s had at his disposal.
With three home games to come in this year’s championship, the first of which being against Italy in just over a fortnight, Scotland couldn’t really have wished for a better hand. It will be something of a revenge mission against the Azzurri after last year’s calamitous loss in Rome, but Townsend knows that now is the time to deliver for this group of players.
If they can take care of the Italians on the opening weekend, then it’s the visit of Ireland to Murrayfield in round two where things could get really interesting. That’s the key game that could really open up the championship for Scotland, and if they can make a fast start with two back-to-back wins, anything will feel possible.
Townsend, of course, has never beaten Ireland. They are his nemesis. Since a 29-22 home win to start the 2017 championship, they have been Scotland’s nemesis, too. But, with Andy Farrell not in charge due to his Lions commitments, this is as good an opportunity as any to change that narrative.
Nobody expects the green machine to suddenly fall apart in Farrell’s absence. Simon Easterby will command the respect of their squad and is a fine coach in his own right. But Farrell not being there will make a difference. It will open up a window of opportunity for other teams. It has to. Otherwise, what’s the point of a head coach?
Townsend expects it to be an incredibly tight tournament. He feels France might just shade it as favourites, but also pointed out that Ireland will have a point to prove if people are of a mind to write them off.
Meanwhile, Fergus Burke is the headline inclusion in Scotland’s squad. The Saracens fly-half has pledged his international future to Scotland rather than England. That’s a coup – Burke has been a revelation since joining Saracens last summer.
It will be a revenge mission against Italy first up after a disaster performance and loss last year
Townsend expects it to be an incredibly tight tournament and it could open up for Scotland
If they get the better of defending champions Ireland in round two, things could get interesting
Born in New Zealand and capped at Under 20 level for the All Blacks, Burke qualifies to play for Scotland through his Glaswegian grandad. He also qualifies for England through his mum and it’s understood that he was under serious consideration for a call-up to Steve Borthwick’s squad earlier this week.
But, after tracking the player for well over a year, Townsend believes it’s a major boost that Scotland have snapped up the 25-year-old fly-half. Although he’s a rookie at Test match level, his performances for Sarries will rightly excite Scotland fans about what he can achieve for the national team.
Along with Tom Jordan, Burke will provide the back-up to Finn Russell at fly-half, with Adam Hastings missing the tournament due to a facial injury.
Given the impact Jordan made in the autumn, and the form Burke has shown for a top side in Saracens, suddenly life without Finn doesn’t look quite so frightening. The cupboard doesn’t look quite so bare in terms of the options available at 10. The same can’t be said, though, up front.
Zander Fagerson has been one of the form tightheads in world rugby over the past year. He’s been an absolute machine for Scotland, routinely going above and beyond in terms of minutes played.
Yet, behind him, there really isn’t anyone else. The drop-off from Fagerson to second and third-choice tightheads is significant.
In a championship that can often be so punishing with injuries, that remains a serious concern. But Townsend will cross that bridge if and when he comes to it. In terms of the talent available to him, and with three home games, he’ll never have a better chance to get this Scotland team challenging for silverware.
Dare we dream of a title shootout against France in Paris on the final weekend? Too early for that.
Fergus Burke is the headline inclusion in Scotland’s squad after choosing them over England
In attack, however, there are few options – but Zander Fagerson has been one of the form tightheads in world rugby
But, if they can finally fulfil their potential, Scotland could at least be in those kind of conversations when the tournament reaches its denouement. They will once again be led by Tuipulotu, perhaps the form centre in world rugby right now who captained the team so well in the autumn.
Townsend is under no illusions that Scotland can’t suffer another repeat of the paltry two wins they mustered in last year’s championship. Should that happen again, it would be impossible to make the case for him continuing as head coach.
