SCOTLAND are once again crusading on a 6 Nations campaign full of promise, but where they have to deliver.
The Scots, who are most certainly the nearly-men of world rugby, nearly beating Australia at the World Cup and in the autumn, nearly beating Wales and nearly beating England. But each time they fell short.
And the SRU have decided it is time for a change, with head coach Vern Cotter heading out and bringing in Gregor Townsend from June.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest rugby union news, gossip and rumours plus 6 Nations fixtures, results and live match commentary
How will that affect the players’ morale during this year’s tournament?
What are Scotland’s 6 Nations fixtures?
Sat, Feb 4 – Scotland vs Ireland – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – 2.25pm – BBC – REPORT
Sun, Feb 12 – France vs Scotland – Stade de France, Paris – 3pm (GMT) – BBC – REPORT
Sat, Feb 25 – Scotland vs Wales – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – 2.25pm – BBC – PREVIEW
Sat, Mar 11 – England vs Scotland – Twickenham, London – 4pm – ITV
Sat, Mar 18 – Scotland vs Italy – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – 12.30pm – BBC
Who is the Scotland side to face Wales?
Scotland have made five changes to their side, with John Barclay being named as captain following the loss of Greig Laidlaw through injury.
John Hardie and Ryan Wilson come into the back row, while Gordon Reid slots into the front row for his first start of the tournament.
Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Tim Visser, Huw Jones, Alex Dunbar, Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell, Alistair Price; Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, John Barclay, John Hardie, Ryan Wilson.
Who is in the Scotland 6 Nations Squad?
FORWARDS
Front row
Alex Allan
Simon Berghan
Allan Dell
Zander Fagerson
Willem Nel
Gordon Reid
Jon Welsh
Fraser Brown
Ross Ford
Stuart McInally
Second row
Jonny Gray
Richie Gray
Grant Gilchrist
Tim Swinson
Ben Toolis
Back row
John Barclay
Cornell Du Preez
John Hardie
Related Articles
Rob Harley
Josh Strauss
Hamish Watson
Ryan Wilson
BACKS
Half backs
Greig Laidlaw
Ali Price
Henry Pyrgos
Finn Russell
Duncan Weir
Centres
Mark Bennett
Alex Dunbar
Huw Jones
Matt Scott
Duncan Taylor
Wingers/Full-backs
Stuart Hogg
Damien Hoyland
Sean Maitland
Tommy Seymour
Tim Visser
Who is the captain of the Scotland team for the 6 Nations?
Greig Laidlaw returns as captain – and possibly his most famous ever moment is still ‘the stare’ he gave South African referee Craig Joubert after his horror call as Australia dumped Scotland out of the 2015 World Cup.
Nothing has seemed to sum-up Scotland’s nearly-boys tag as that moment, watching Joubert sprint off the pitch having made a horror call.
Scrum-half Laidlaw has been skipper since 2011 and is in with a good shot of making the British and Irish Lions squad to play in New Zealand in the summer.
With 570 points from the boot, if he shows good form, Laidlaw should be in Warren Gatland’s squad.
The Gloucester scrumhalf unfortunately sustained an ankle injury during the first half of the 22-16 defeat to France and will miss the remainder of the tournament.
Who are the new faces in the Scotland team for the 6 Nations?
Simon Berghan
It is no secret that Scotland have seriously improved their ranks with players born outside the country and 26-year-old Kiwi-born Berghan is no exception.
The prop has played for Edinburgh since 2014 and now qualifies to play for Scotland, so expect Cotter to use him at some point.
Cornell Du Preez
A South African Under-20s international, Du Preez has been at Edinburgh since 2013 and was eligible to play for Scotland in the Autumn internationals, but was not used.
Like Berghan, Du Preez is an import and can play anywhere across the back row.
Who is injured for Scotland and misses the 6 Nations?
Bath’s No8 David Denton misses the tournament with a hamstring strain, Edinburgh props Alasdair Dickinson and Rory Sutherland have foot and groin injuries respectively.
Rory Hughes is out with a knee problem and Pete Horne with a crocked ankle.
Leave a comment