The last time I played against Wales at Murrayfield, Scotland scored the fastest try ever recorded in an international match. It was so quick, I was still singing Flower of Scotland when Duncan Hodge was taking the conversion!
Joking aside, Scotland might need an identical start against the Welsh in Edinburgh today because Wales have arrived here determined to keep alive their Six Nations ambitions.
Back in 1999, John Leslie just caught the kick-off and ran in five points. It was a dream start, but even then we still managed to trail by half-time. Thankfully we rallied and got the win – I say we, as I was out injured by the break – but we don’t want to be playing catch-up on Saturday. Wales won’t be as generous as they were against England.
The last weekend of the championship was a sore one for both the Welsh and the Scots, but more of us later.
Losing to England is never nice – and I know, I made a career of it. But the Welsh had that game won and literally kicked it away, giving the ball back to England who just ran in a score. A painful lesson about clearing your lines properly, and, about games lasting 80 minutes.
So, for a fortnight Wales have been smarting, knowing that they should have arrived in Edinburgh ready for the next hurdle in a run to a possible Grand Slam, but instead now realise that, a Triple Crown has also gone, and that to win anything now, they need favours from the other nations.
Hopefully, that won’t apply to Scotland, who despite losing in Paris a week past Sunday, once again emerged with a great deal of credit, and, with at least a chance of the Championship and a Triple Crown. Easy when you say it like that – but this afternoon will be anything but easy.
If you take everything in to account after two games, Scotland have had one outstanding half of rugby. The first 40 minutes against Ireland was superb. But for almost the entire second half, it was about defence and tackling everything that came their way.
And while there were some brilliant pieces of opportunism and skill to take us close in Paris, ultimately we ended up hitting a French juggernaut head-on. Not pretty, painful indeed – but unless we manage the game we can only expect more of the same against Wales.
Every Test Match is demanding, and, big performances are expected. That for applies to Finn Russell today.
Possession is everything in rugby, and in the two games so far, I think we’ve given it away cheaply. Our game management hasn’t been great at times, and we’ve allowed the opposition time to set themselves and play their game, rather than us dictating the situation.
For me Finn will be vital, in trying to keep the team going forward, and, playing in the right areas if the field. We are quite good at it – maybe because we get a load of practice – but we don’t want to be spending an hour on Saturday afternoon trying to knockdown a red wave that comes at us again and again.
Russell should be fine with the half-back relationship with Ali Price. They know each other well enough from Glasgow, so the service should be fine. I liked Price when he came on against France. I’d always played with No.9’s who had a bit about them, and would have a go on their own, like Gary Armstrong, Bryan Redpath and Andy Nicol. Ali has that about him.
The thing is, we have some outstanding performers who do have the ability, and can dictate the flow of the game, especially up front. The Gray boys, Richie and Jonny, have been superb. But I want to see them do more offensively than defensively.
I hope John Barclay has a game to remember, now that he is captain. He has played himself back in to Vern Cotter’s plans and team, and now, he has been handed a magnificent accolade having not so long ago been completely overlooked.
But, I do feel sorry for Hamish Watson. Would he have still been in the team if Stuart Hogg had thrown another pass wide in Paris and let the Edinburgh flanker score? Who can say, but, given the two matches he has had so far, he can count himself really unlucky not to be playing against the Welsh.
All of that said, if we are going to win, our back division must play their part. They have done this far. With ball in hand, either from set plays or in counter-attack, they have looked ultra-sharp in the games so far.
So much is made of Stuart Hogg, and rightly so. He takes a bit of watching – but maybe then the Welsh will take an eye off the others. Tim Visser’s inclusion will add a bit of presence out wide, but up the middle, Huw Jones and Alex Dunbar need to be utilised more often.
Can Scotland win? Of course we can. Just don’t leave it until the last kick boys …
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