Finn Russell will be looking to discount Scotland’s Six Nations line
Scotland will open their campaign against the Calcutta Cup against England at Twickenham on 6 February.
Their last trip to London saw a full-time classic when Gregor Townsend’s team put an excellent senior to recover from 31 points down and claim a stunning 38-38 draw.
Can they get better this year and beat England on Saturday to put themselves in a strong position for their first Six Nations title?
Fixtures
- England – Twickenham – Saturday, February 6 – 4.45pm (GMT)
- Wales – Murrayfield – Saturday, February 13 – 4.45pm (GMT)
- France – Stade de France – Sunday, February 28 – 3pm (GMT)
- Ireland – Murrayfield – Sunday, March 14 – 3pm (GMT)
- Italy – Murrayfield – Saturday, March 20 – 2.15pm (GMT)
What’s hot?
Scotland will be inspired by the fact that Finn Russell is back in the Townsend squad after playing less than an hour of Test rugby in 2020.
The Scots saw their preparations for last year’s tournament thrown in disarray just days before they opened in Ireland when Russell stepped down from action after a breakdown in the player’s relationship their star and head coach.
Russell has scored 147 points in 51 Tests for Scotland
After losing the first four games of the tournament, the Racing 92 footballer finally got a grip on issues with Townsend but was stopped from coming back on just his second run due to a foul. leg injuries in closure closer to the six Welsh nations in Scotland, ruled out of the Autumn Cup.
Russell’s return means Scotland will have a magical grip that could launch a campaign for remembrance.
There is also the excellent form of Jamie Ritchie, who is becoming a Scottish landowner despite being only 24 years old.
Ritchie recently signed a new contract with Edinburgh which the club described as the longest in history, with head coach Richard Cockerill commenting: “Jamie is an excellent young player with an old head. shoulders.He has a really good future ahead of him.
Richard Cockerill says Jamie Ritchie has the potential to one day captain Scotland
“He is a great leader on the pitch and certainly has the potential, in my opinion, to captain his country in the future. “
What isn’t?
In terms of domestic competition, it was not a good season for both sides of Scotland in the Guinness PRO14.
Glasgow are fourth in Conference A after winning just three of their first 10 games, and in Conference B Edinburgh are sixth after winning four out of 10.
It’s a disappointing run for Edinburgh, who beat Conference B last season, losing out on a place in the final after being stopped by Ulster. back late in the semis.
The men from the Scottish capital did slightly better in Europe, narrowly losing to La Rochelle in the first round before falling out of Sale Sharks in the second.
However, Glasgow’s European campaign was left in tattoos when they were taken over 42-0 by Exeter ahead of a game that was postponed against Lyon due to Covid-19, resulting in a 28-0 loss. presented to the Warriors by the tournament organizers.
What has changed?
Townsend has named four unmanned players in his squad, with hooks David Cherry and Euan Ashman scoring after Stuart McInally missed a neck injury in a recent weight training session .
Second row Alex Craig and center Cameron Redpath, whose Bryan father won 60 captains for Scotland, will finish the uncapped quarter.
“Our depth throughout the squad allows us to bring in some new players who have been fantastic in recent weeks and others who we believe will be able to on performance at Test level, “Townsend said of the newcomers.
Will Gregor Townsend win Scotland’s first Six Nations title?
Grant Gilchrist in the second row is also back after being pulled out of the Autumn Cup squad due to injury.
Off the field, there was also a Rugby World Cup draw last month where Scotland were selected in the same pool as Ireland and defending South African heroes.
While there are still two and a half years before the tournament starts in France, Townsend will know that his team’s achievements will always be piled up against the work ahead of them in 2023. Will that put pressure? on them, or will it make them better? The Six Nations this year is their first chance to signal.
Key player
Duhan van der Merwe: While Russell is an obvious choice, winger Van der Merwe has done a short job of becoming one of Scotland’s first names on the team page.
Duhan van der Merwe has made an attempt against Ireland in Dublin in December
The player made his debut against Georgia on October 23, and has already scored three attempts in five Tests for the adopted country.
Van der Merwe, who is leaving Edinburgh for the Worcester Warriors at the end of the season, has gained power according to his pace, and talks about becoming a Lions tourist to his native country have begun in earnest .
The 25-year-old is the kind of dynamic player who will benefit from playing a backline run by a creative semi-professional like Russell.
Competition schedule
Six Countries since 2000: None
Total: 15 titles in total (1887, 1889, 1891, 1895, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1907, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1938, 1984, 1990, 1999)
Scotland’s 35-man Squad for the Six Nations 2021:
Next (20): Ewan Ashman, Simon Berghan, David Cherry, Alex Craig, Scott Cummings, Allan Dell, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Gary Graham, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Oli Kebble, Willem Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Grant Stewart, Rory Sutherland , Blade Thomson, George Turner, Hamish Watson.
Bannan (15): Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Stuart Hogg, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, James Lang, Sean Maitland, Byron McGuigan, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Finn Russell, Scott Steele, Duncan Taylor, Jaco van der Walt, Duhan van der Merwe.