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.
Denne historien er fra December 01, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 01, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Stade are heading in right direction
IS there an early winter equivalent to the idiom about solitary swallows and the impending arrival of summer? Because – whatever it might be, something involving snowflakes, perhaps, or frosts – that’s the situation at Stade Francais right now.
Borthwick needs to sort out defence
WELL surprise, surprise England at last managed to win at home in front of a nearly full Allianz stadium even if it was against a team that they had thrashed just a few months earlier.
Rowland is gearing up for world cup challenge
HELENA Rowland believes England Women have been given advance warning that next year’s Rugby World Cup is to be no formality.
All my energy is going into Beziers
IT’S a dream to be a part-share owner of AS Beziers Hérault, the 11-time French champions, along with Andrew Mehrtens and Bobby Skinstad.
Fylde left to count cost of the cards
LEEDS TYKES were thankful for their resolute defence as they clung on to claim a narrow win against Fylde.
O'Grady glad to learn his trade in tough surroundings
EXETER University flyhalf Lewis O’Grady is enjoying the physicality of National 2 West and insists it is the best preparation for his transition to senior rugby after graduation.
It's Bristol or nothing for me - Cunningham
PROUD Bristolian Hollie Cunningham hopes to inspire the next generation of Bears players and can’t see herself ever playing for anyone else.
Bristol hit heights to take down champions
BRISTOL Bears head coach Dave Ward could not hide his delight following an impressive victory over reigning PWR champions Gloucester Hartpury at Kingsholm.
Good to see the Eagles soaring again
THAT’S a wrap for the autumn Tests and it would be remiss not to scroll through the undercard and round up the best of the action outside of the A list matches. A quick crib sheet for those not paying attention at the back.
Thomas ready for Edinburgh clash
FRESH from his dream Wales debut, Freddie Thomas has set his sights on helping Gloucester conquer Europe.
