Six Nations countdown: The brave Scots

Of the Six Nations countries, Scotland has the smallest number of players to choose from, but you will never hear that as any excuse from them as the flower of Scotland’s rugby does battle on the great rugby fields of Europe.

Out of a Scottish population of some five million, roughly 39 000 play rugby. By contrast England has some 54 million people with two million players. As at Bannockburn in 1314, when the Scots stood up to King Edward II’s army and sent them off defeated, so 704 years later, at Murrayfield in 2018, the Scots routed Eddie Jones’s army and sent them homewards defeated. This year the Scots will have to head south to Twickenham to face the English. But they will do so with courage and no fear. No matter that they have not won there since 1983, they will put up a brave scrap.

The England match, for the Calcutta Cup, will end the 2019 Six Nations.

Scottish Six Nations Fixtures 2019

2 February 2019
Scotland vs Italy at Murrayfield

9 February 2019
Scotland vs Ireland at Murrayfield

23 February 2019
France vs Scotland at Stade de France

9 March 2019
Scotland vs Wales at Murrayfield

16 March 2019
England vs Scotland at Twickenham

Scottish Results in 2018

The Scots played 12, winning seven and losing five. In fact it was a good year in the Six Nations as they ended third behind Ireland and Wales and above France, England and Italy, all of whom they defeated.

Scotland lost to Wales 34-7 in Cardiff
Scotland beat France 32-26 at Murrayfield
Scotland beat England 25-13 at Murrayfield
Scotland lost to Ireland 28-8 in Dublin
Scotland beat Italy 29-27 in Rome
Scotland beat Canada 48-10 in Edmonton
Scotland lost to United States 30-29 in Houston
Scotland beat Argentina 44-15 in Resistencia in northeastern Argentina
Scotland lost to Wales 21-10 in Cardiff
Scotland beat Fiji 54-17 at Murrayfield
Scotland lost to South Africa 26-20 at Murrayfield
Scotland beat Argentina 14-9 at Murrayfield

Players

Scotland is not without some great players on the rugby fields of today, players like fullback Stuart Hogg with his courage, vision, intuition and skill, wings Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour, centres Alex Dunbar and Huw Jones, and halfbacks Finn Russell and Greig Laidlaw. That is a classy backline. They are behind a pack that will not stand back as they rally round their energetic skipper Stuart McInally and flank Hamish Watson.

Coach

Gregor Townsend, a man from the Borders, a versatile back, was capped 82 times for Scotland.

Prediction

At the best – third; at the worst – fifth. But they will have much support and lots of admiration.

By Paul Dobson,
@rugby365com

The countdown to the Guinness Six Nations is on! 🏆

Tomorrow, Gregor Townsend will name his Scotland squad for the 2019 tournament so check back right here to see the squad.

Here’s a look back at the action from last year while you wait… #AsOne pic.twitter.com/7tzEiwsVL4

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) January 15, 2019