Scotland

When the news came in that Ross Ford was to be captain of Scotland there was a sense that Scotland's backroom team had flashed their intent. Everyone was moving on from that World Cup.

Six Nations coaches and players chat to Talking Rugby

When I last wrote a Blog I was still in New Zealand enjoying what I can only describe as the best World Cup to have ever been played out!

Pressure can do funny things to a player. It can mess with your kick. It can force you to make silly calls. It can lead to that brazen mid-air collision that earns you a yellow card and lets the opposition get on top.

How's it going all my rugby readers? As the festive period has been and gone, I've set myself the usual New Year's resolutions....FAIL!

Today Scotland announced their training squad for the upcoming RBS Six Nations.

Paterson's debut came in the 1999 World Cup against Spain but it only took him a year to become a regular with the Scottish team during the inaugural Six Nations tournament in 2000.

For the first time in their history, they failed to reach the Quarter-Finals but by only the narrowest of margins as they let two games they could/should have won slip from their grasp.

In Scottish sport there is a history of rivalry. The Old Firm bouts between Glasgow's Rangers and Celtic are renowned globally for reasons both ancient and ugly.

Scotland slumped to an unfortunate defeat at the hands of Argentina in their third match of Rugby World Cup 2011

Scotland go into their penultimate Pool B game knowing that victory would all but guarantee them qualification for the knock-out stages

Scotland stumbled to a second unconvincing Rugby World Cup win with a dour 15-6 win over Pool B opponents Georgia on Wednesday night.

Scotland endured a nervy start to their Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign, and although they eventually overcame a feisty Romania 34-24 there was enough evidence in their scratchy performance to give great encouragement of a scalp for European Nations Cup holders Georgia.

Scotland narrowly avoided an embarrassing opening game defeat as their World Cup campaign got off to a stuttering start.

Scotland go into their opening Rugby World Cup match against Romania off the back of two encouraging victories against Ireland and Italy.

To many this team is what you would expect from Scotland with the "main men" Chris Patterson, Euan Murray, Ross Ford, the Lamont Brothers plus Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter included

The game was seen as an experimental game to Ireland fielding a side with new cap Mike McCarthy starting and a new look midfield partnership with Paddy Wallace and Fergus McFadden starting in midfield for Ireland

"Scotland are a frustrating side to watch, Those were the words of the old man sitting on a park bench watching some youngsters train.

This is my prediction for South Africa's strongest World Cup starting 22. Let us know your thoughts and who would you include in your starting 22?

Scotland's disappointing Six Nations campaign ended on a high as they comfortably beat Italy at Murrayfield to avoid the wooden spoon