Who’s their coach?
That’s a good question; who is the Scotland coach? Vern Cotter agreed to take over last summer, but his contract with Clermont lasts until the end of the current season. That has meant an ongoing stint for the Scott Johnson on an interim basis. The Australian will move into the position of Director of Rugby when Cotter arrives, but for now Johnson is in control.
Scotland have won four of the 12 games the former Ospreys head coach has overseen, beating Italy [twice], Japan and Ireland. Last season’s Six Nations saw them finishing third despite just two wins.
How’s the form?
The November Tests saw Scotland win one of their three clashes, beating Japan 42-17 and running in several excellent tries. Defeats against South Africa and Australia followed at Murrayfield, with the former being particularly comprehensive in wet conditions. The pace and power of the Springboks was too much for Johnson’s men to handle on that occasion.
Against the Wallabies, matters were improved but a deficiency in finishing try-scoring chances was evident. That has been something that has held Scotland back, and they will need to be more clinical in the coming weeks if they are to thrive.
Who’ll be kicking at goal?
Scrum-half Greig Laidlaw is the man in possession of Scotland’s kicking tee, and as he has shown against the Irish provinces in recent seasons, he is an accurate place-kicker. The 28-year-old is seen as a weaker individual attacking threat than alternative nine Chris Cusiter, but the Edinburgh man’s organisational skills may be required if the man outside him isn’t decisive.
What’s their weak point?
Scotland are a solid team, but there has been a genuine lack of consistent control for them from out-half over the past number of seasons. Ruaridh Jackson and Duncan Weir are both in contention for the number 10 shirt, although the Edinburgh playmaker Greig Tonks has been in promising form at out-half and represents a wildcard option.
Whoever is handed the reigns will need to step up to the mark and begin to bring together the various elements that could make Scotland a good side. The likes of Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland can cut defences apart with their pace and evasion skills, but will need better service from inside.
The key man is…
Matt Scott looks like the kind of centre Vern Cotter can build his side around in the coming seasons. At 6ft 1ins and close to 100kg, he possesses enough power to break the line himself but that is matched by creative passing and offloading skills.
The only problem right now is that Scott hasn’t played since the middle of November, with a hand injury against Japan having kept him sidelined. However, there is hope that he will make his return against Ireland on Sunday, and Scotland could certainly use his intelligence and attacking incision.
Anyone missing through injury?
Apart from the worries over Scott, Johnson has had to plan without prolific wing Tim Visser, whose ankle problem has ruled him out of the Six Nations. Meanwhile, first-choice tighthead prop Euan Murray is out of action after a bizarre accident while chopping wood at a Worcester Warriors team-building event left him with a hand injury.
Glasgow Warriors duo Alistair Kellock and Peter Horne are also missing, but it is the presence of the two men above that Scotland will miss most.
Possible starting XV
S Hogg; S Maitland, N de Luca, M Scott, T Seymour; R Jackson/D Weir, G Laidlaw; R Grant, R Ford, G Cross/M Low; R Gray, J Hamilton; A Strokosch, K Brown, J Beattie.
