Praying for a Position of Power
Today Scotland announced their training squad for the upcoming RBS Six Nations. The squad is extended to 36 and a lot of youngsters will get a chance to train in an intense international environment, even if Andy Robinson has no intention of using them in any of the tournament squads. Robinson knows he must make some changes for the future, which is why six uncapped players have been selected, but he is naturally a cautious guy. Any Six Nations team would see a Scottish bolter backed up by incredibly experienced players.
This is true because Scotland need balance. There is no excess of World Class players in Scotland. There is no slag on the fringes either, it must be said, but the step up between Pro12 rugby and the Six Nations is as big as the step up between academy training and professional games: very few players take to it immediately. They will be given a hand.
Of course there are some positions where Robinson can afford to look at such fresh options. Whilst Nick De Luca is Scotland's in-for centre and Morrison is Scotland's (and Glasgow's) defensive marshal both are joined in training by uncapped players like Steven Shingler of London Irish. Although unknown in international terms and only being 20-years-old he has a complete skill set and is continually running lines in the harsh environment of the Aviva Premiership. Likewise, Glasgow's Stuart Hogg can play at 13 but he is also an in-form full-back in a time when Chris Paterson has resigned from the scene.
Robinson has also selected young backs Lee Jones and Duncan Weir. Both of these will be popular choices. Jones is a fast and hard working winger and Duncan Weir is the in-form 10 in Scotland. Of course Edinburgh's Greig Laidlaw is selected as well and will push for a shirt, either at 9 or 10. In the background Dan Parks is also lurking, ready to come in if Robinson wants to revert to slow-play in any of the games.
In the back-row Glasgow's workhorse Rob Harley again trains and David Denton has been too hawkish with ball in hand to be ignored. Frazer McKenzie is playing consistently well for Sale Sharks and could play at 6 or fill a second-row hole left when Nathan Hines retired. This can add competition to a back-row already considered Scotland's strength, but it also heaps pressure on Al Kellock to retain his second-row spot.
Where Scotland are most likely to be under pressure in the Six Nations, though “the front line of the scrum “Robinson has not made any surprising changes.
Allan Jacobsen is Scotland's loose head. That is incontestable. Al Dickinson has been ever present at Sale, but he is not considered to be as reliable as 'Chunk'. Alongside him there is realistically no other candidate for hooker aside from Ross Ford. His confidence is fickle and his throwing can be erratic, as it was during the first 1872 Cup game he played, but when in the mood he is a destructive ball carrier and a strong, if silent, presence in Scotland's pack. Gloucester's Scott Lawson is a solid enough player but few in the stand would burst into carols of support when he makes a half-break. When Ford is on-song Scotland's forwards tend to be, too.
So what about at tight head?
Whilst I was leaving the deciding 1872 Cup game at Firhill on Sunday I shared a car with a rugby journalist. He and I agreed that, much like a left-tackle in American Football, the tight heads are the most valuable players on the park behind the stand-offs. The selection of the number 3 can dictate tactics for a game and decide the fate of most of the team's set-piece.
In this sense Scotland have it OK, but they are tied to a faith in few. There are really only a small number of right sided props able to cope with the pressure of an international scrum and the three who have played in the last few years will be the three Scotland are lumbered with for the next few. Moray Low is an inconsistent scrummager and a man who thrives on confidence. He is still somewhat edgy around international scrums and so would never be Scotland's first choice, but he is strong enough to play when needed. He is selected, but as a back-up. The auxiliary to the established combatants Euan Murray and Geoff Cross.
Much of how Scotland play in the upcoming Six Nations will come down to how these two play. Scotland rely on their tight head and with these two they are caught between two eccentrics and a need to accommodate either. Both will play, but mainly because Murray, a man of redoubtable Christian faith, refuses to play rugby on Sundays. If fit for the tournament he will still be missing for games against Wales and France. In this sense Scotland are held to ransom: Murray is too strong a scrummager and too large a character to leave out, but his selection effectively burns a squad place in the backline because Cross and Low have to be selected.
Cross will definitely play rugby and the affable prop, also a qualified doctor and perhaps the World's most polite man, will humbly take his place on the field or on the bench. He is a player strong enough to play at that level but acquiescent enough before the thistle to do whatever Scotland need. As one prop serves God both serve Scotland and whilst both are in the squad it will be intriguing to see if Cross can take his opportunities and keep Murray out of the team, even once the Sabbath is over.
Here is the Scotland Six Nations squad:
Backs: Joe Ansbro (London Irish), Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Max Evans (Castres), Stuart Hogg*, Ruaridh Jackson (both Glasgow Warriors), Lee Jones*, Greig Laidlaw (both Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Steven Shingler* (London Irish) and Duncan Weir* (Glasgow Warriors)
Forwards: John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton (both Edinburgh Rugby), Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Gray, Dougie Hall (both Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Robert Harley* (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Fraser McKenzie* (Sale Sharks), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) and Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks).
(* denotes uncapped player).
