Scotland must not waste potential
The Rugby Paper|December 01, 2024
N assessment of where Scotland and England are after the autumn series, with another Calcutta Cup clash to come at Twickenham in the middle of the Six Nations, is an interesting comparison. It's made even more pointed by competition for places on the 2025 Lions tour.
JEREMY GUSCOTT
Scotland must not waste potential

AN assessment of where Scotland and England are after the autumn series, with another Calcutta Cup clash to come at Twickenham in the middle of the Six Nations, is an interesting comparison. It's made even more pointed by competition for places on the 2025 Lions tour.

Scotland's comprehensive victory over Australia last weekend, which derailed the Wallabies' Grand Slam tour hopes - and a further win over Fiji, plus a battling performance against South Africa - has seen them emerge in better shape than England.

Scotland's record of having won five, lost one and drawn one of the last seven Six Nations encounters with England - including two wins and a draw at Twickenham - is another feelgood factor, with the trip south of the border no longer the daunting prospect it was.

However, while I want to get excited about Scottish rugby, I've learned over 20 years or more to take a breath, and to see how it goes. Scotland have had times when they have beaten France or England, but then they usually undo it by losing to Wales or Italy.

My reservation is not so much in Scotland's all-round ability, but whether they can be consistent enough to win four games in the Six Nations - because that would be a vast step up.

The 1990 Grand Slam team was one of Scotland's best - and there was a follow-through from that into the Lions tours of 1989 and 1993, when I played alongside players of true quality like the Hastings brothers, Finlay Calder, Derek White and John Jeffrey.

Since then, the Scottish representation in Lions Test teams has shrunk, and it has coincided with them usually only ever winning two or three of their Six Nations fixtures. In addition, they have not made the World Cup semi-finals since 1991 - although with South Africa and Ireland in their 2023 World Cup pool their lack of further progress was understandable.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE RUGBY PAPERView all
A humble hero who had a big heart ...
The Rugby Paper

A humble hero who had a big heart ...

A DARK cloud of sorrow has been hovering above St Thomas’ Church at the east end of Swansea this Christmas over the loss of one of its most beloved disciples, Geoff Wheel.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Firefighter Konkel turning the heat up for Harlequins
The Rugby Paper

Firefighter Konkel turning the heat up for Harlequins

FIREFIGHTER Jade Konkel has ignited a Harlequins title charge following a run of miserable successive seasons for the 2020/21 winners.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Quins finish year at the top of the pile
The Rugby Paper

Quins finish year at the top of the pile

HARLEQUINS went top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby with victory in Big Game 16 at the Allianz Stadium.

time-read
1 min  |
December 29, 2024
Pirates are on course to make it five in a row
The Rugby Paper

Pirates are on course to make it five in a row

CORNISH Pirates are riding a wave of momentum looking for their fifth consecutive Championship win when they visit strugglers Ampthill today.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Nottingham take their chances to silence Cov
The Rugby Paper

Nottingham take their chances to silence Cov

A THRILLING display of high-tempo attacking rugby in which wingers Ryan Olowofela and David Williams played prominent roles earned Nottingham a bonus-point success over Midlands rivals Coventry.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Itoje: Life's taken turn for the better under Borthwick
The Rugby Paper

Itoje: Life's taken turn for the better under Borthwick

ENGLAND and Saracens lock Maro Itoje has claimed that the ‘atmosphere and experience’ of playing for the national team has improved under Steve Borthwick compared to life under former head coach Eddie Jones, adding that some of the practices Jones employed to get the best out of his players were ‘unnecessary’.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Varndell: Lam has put flair into Bears
The Rugby Paper

Varndell: Lam has put flair into Bears

WHEN it comes to scoring tries in Premiership Rugby, few players have struck fear into opposition defences quite like Tom Varndell.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Let's hope Brizball can stay in fashion
The Rugby Paper

Let's hope Brizball can stay in fashion

THIS is not obviously the time to be talking balls – the Twickenham elite have cornered that particular market – but the question demands to be asked: is Brizball the union game’s version of Bazball?

time-read
3 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Roots looking to find his old form
The Rugby Paper

Roots looking to find his old form

ETHAN Roots started 2024 with a bang, man of the match in Italy on his England debut, but his year ended with more of a splutter.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Dragons still can't get better of Cardiff
The Rugby Paper

Dragons still can't get better of Cardiff

DRAGONS’ nightmare run against their fiercest rivals continued as they fell to their 19th consecutive defeat, having not beaten them since Boxing Day 2014.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024