Fan’s view: Victory in Cardiff cauldron is vital for Scotland’s progress

Great to get a win against one of the big boys in a championship game and Scotland were fully deserving of the victory. But, let’s not go over the top as one swallow does not a summer make. Less of the hyperbole, please.

Rory Sutherland, Scotland's player of the tournament so far, in action during the win over France. Picture: Gary Hutchison/SNS/SRU

There are serious caveats to Sunday’s win. France losing their conductor inside ten minutes. Then Romain Ntamack’s replacement, 
Matthieu Jalibert, making a comical schoolboy-like rush out of the French defensive line which allowed Sam Johnson to easily drift outside him, then draw the last man and pass to Sean Maitland for Scotland’s opening try.

This was after the game’s opening try by France, clinically executed with a pin-point accurate kick-pass from scrum-half Antoine Dupont to right wing Damian Penaud.

In between the French and Scottish opening tries came the game’s most decisive moment and something that will be repeatedly shown down the years. France had their young hot-headed tight-head, Mohamed Haouas, sent off after 37 minutes for the sort of thuggery we haven’t seen since… oh yes, since Frenchman Sebastien Vahaamahina was sent off in the World Cup quarter-final four months ago against Wales when France were also ahead in the game.

The third caveat is the gift of a try to Rambo McInally after another lost Scottish lineout which saw French number two jumper, Dylan Cretin, slapping the ball back and it fortuitously bouncing into the arms of McInally for an unopposed gallop home down the left wing.

Maybe Scotland were due a few slices of good fortune. After Italy and Scotland, France have the worst travelling record in the Six Nations. Wales in Cardiff are an entirely different proposition and are clearly no mugs. They will be more desperate than ever to win after three losses on the trot. I was at Scotland’s last win there in 2002. A late afternoon kick-off ensured a good “kick of the ball” was had pre-match.

One of my pals, Mosshead, became more and more vocal and confident about Scotland’s chances of winning. The most practical thing to do, so he said, was to nip into a bookies on St Mary Street right next to the then Millennium Stadium. He put a bit on Gordon Bulloch being the first try scorer. Bulloch was, and, in fact, he got two tries that day. Chainsaw Laney scored 14 points from full-back and Gregor Townsend played stand-off. 

The cauldron of the 
Principality Stadium against a fired-up Wales is another tough test for Scotland’s player of the tournament so far, Rory Sutherland, pictured. He has been magnificent in every game which says so much for him having played so 
little rugby.

Zander Fagerson isn’t far behind him. The middle of the front row is more problematic when it comes to the lineout.

Fraser Brown’s darts were again awry on Sunday and substitute hooker McInally’s try came from another lost Scotland lineout which was dealt with carelessly by France.

Townsend said after the game “we maybe could have got one or two more”. He knows well that his team are profligate and it has cost Scotland a try bonus point in each of their two wins.

A win tomorrow in Cardiff is extremely important for Townsend and his team, another loss on the road and can we really say that any progress has been made? I think not.

Knocking over Italy away and France at home are your starters for ten. If this is all that Scotland take out of this Six Nations then it isn’t enough in a far from vintage championship against mediocre opposition.