The first leg of the inaugural Rugby Nations Championship saw Scotland place second in the Northern Hemisphere Table, with the second leg starting on the 2 November for Scotland’s 21st game against the All Blacks at Murrayfield. The stadium has become known for New Zealand’s 100-year winning streak, encompassing all 20 games that have been played there. However, with the most exciting squad in decades and with both Edinburgh and Glasgow in marvellous form in the URC, what chance do Scotland really have this weekend and in the tournament as a whole?
Scotland’s squad announcement last week should be a comfort to the majority of fans. A distinct lack of any major omissions or injuries that would hinder proceedings is a pleasing sight. The perennial maverick Finn Russell takes his usual place in the squad alongside star captain Sione Tuipulotu.
However, the back three raises more questions in the generally settled back line. Kyle Steyn’s aerial dominance in the last year is likely to earn him a place in the team. However, there will be much debate as to who should partner him on his opposite wing, the lightning feet of Darcy Graham, or emerging talent Jamie Dobie, who has performed so well for Glasgow in recent years.
The pack has long been an area of concern against the bigger nations, particularly the front row. Leading props Schoeman and Fagerson continue to be heralded, with a marked step down in quality to the likes of Darcy Rae and Rory Sutherland. However, young gun Ollie Blythe-Lafferty has been rewarded with a spot in the squad following Jamie Ritchie’s unfortunate injury over this last weekend. Young hooker Gregor Hiddleston will look to back up his inspired performance against the Springboks in the summer if he is given another opportunity against the All Blacks. If they can find the energy we saw against the likes of France, Argentina and in brief moments against South Africa, the pack might just provide the leverage the backs need to see victory.
Last year it took a physics-defying finish from Damien McKenzie to seal the game for New Zealand in the last 10 minutes. This year, on the back of recent form—including the best Scottish display in 20 years against France in the Six Nations—hopeful fans can only continue to sit in anticipation and see if Scotland can finally break the cycle that has plagued the rugby team for the lifespan of this celebrated generation.
Nonetheless, it’s important not to forget that a win here is just a step forward in the overall tournament, where Scotland should hope to place at least second in the table to consider it a success.
Photo by Rorisang Ditake on Unsplash under the Unsplash License.
