Scotland v Wales: Gregor Townsend needs to back up Twickenham win with another big performance

Gregor Townsend has achieved a clutch of stunning results in his near four years in charge of Scotland but they have tended to come in spurts.
Scotland's Blade Thomson replaces Jamie Ritchie at blindside flanker. Picture: Jane Barlow/PAScotland's Blade Thomson replaces Jamie Ritchie at blindside flanker. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA
Scotland's Blade Thomson replaces Jamie Ritchie at blindside flanker. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

He can look back with pride at a triumph over Australia in Sydney early on in his reign and a remarkable 53-24 win over the same opponents at Murrayfield a few months later.

There have also been notable home victories over France (twice) and England as well as that close run thing against New Zealand in November 2017.

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But it is his team’s ability in the last four months to win away games in the Six Nations that lends growing credence to the theory that Townsend’s Scotland could be on the cusp of something special.

By winning in Wales last October and at Twickenham last weekend, this team have shown a refusal to be saddled by the dead weight of history.

The trick now is to put the pieces together and go on a run that would see the Scots challenge for the title.

Scotland followed up that first ever win in Sydney in 2017 with a defeat by Fiji. Today they welcome Wales to BT Murrayfield knowing that a win would firmly establish the Scots as contenders.

“The growth has to be backing up big performances, being consistent, being tough to beat,” acknowledged Townsend.

Captain Stuart Hogg has called on Scotland to follow up the Twickenham win with a big performance against Wales. Picture: Jane Barlow/PACaptain Stuart Hogg has called on Scotland to follow up the Twickenham win with a big performance against Wales. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA
Captain Stuart Hogg has called on Scotland to follow up the Twickenham win with a big performance against Wales. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

“I suppose if you look back over the last few years, that’s something we’ve not always done. I think we’ve shown that we’re tough to beat. If we can get that consistency of performance, we might not win every game but you’re going to be in every game and with that you’ll get confidence and you’ll get learnings that if you do get into tough moments you can handle them.

“We know we have to do that this week against a very experienced and very tough Welsh team but we believe in this group and that we can be a match for anybody in this Championship.”

After such a disappointing World Cup in 2019 when Scotland failed to qualify from the group stage for the only second time in the tournament’s history, Townsend went back to the drawing board. He reshaped his coaching team and put more emphasis on defence.

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He is always eager to learn and that is passed on to a squad whose maturity and calmness manifested itself in last weekend’s 11-6 win at Twickenham, a venue at which Scottish emotions have a tendency to run amok.

James Lang replaces the injured Cam Redpath at inside centre. Picture: Jane Barlow/PAJames Lang replaces the injured Cam Redpath at inside centre. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA
James Lang replaces the injured Cam Redpath at inside centre. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA
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The coach was hugely impressed by what he saw at half-time from his players as they worked out how they would approach the start of the second period without Finn Russell who had been sin-binned.

“There was a composure around what was needed in the next few minutes when we were a man down but also what was required in the second half,” said Townsend.

“But you have to earn that in every game. You have to earn that right to have that composure and confidence that you’re going to win this game.”

Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe during a training session at the BT Murrayfield on the eve of the Wales match. Picture: Jane Barlow/PAScotland's Duhan van der Merwe during a training session at the BT Murrayfield on the eve of the Wales match. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA
Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe during a training session at the BT Murrayfield on the eve of the Wales match. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

Wales come north emboldened by an opening round victory over Ireland. With pressure building on their coach Wayne Pivac after a disappointing 2020 it was a much-needed result.

The absence of Jamie Ritchie is a blow for Scotland as they look to gain the upper hand on a Welsh back row for whom Justin Tipuric presents the chief threat.

John Dalziel, the Scotland forwards coach, was impressed by him in the win over the Irish.

“Having Tipuric there to be that link between backs and forwards and really drive that attacking game plan, he looked a real handful,” he said.

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Dalziel expects a tougher Wales team than the one Scotland encountered in Llanelli but he believes the addition of Blade Thomson at blindside can compensate for Ritchie’s absence and also add some insider knowledge.

“Blade, for me, is the all-round absolute mould of a No 6,” said the coach. “He’s got everything. He’s a big man, he’s had experience of playing in the middle row, he has an excellent set-piece game in the scrum and the lineout, and we’ve seen him for Scarlets in the big European games unlocking defences with his offloading game.

“Blade knows their players inside out but also brings a different skill-set from Jamie. It’s good to see him stepping up this weekend.”

Scotland have also lost Cam Redpath and Sean Maitland from the side which defeated England, with James Lang and Darcy Graham replacing them at 12 and 14. The other 12 starters from Twickenham retain their places against a Wales squad minus a quarter of their 36-man Six Nations selection. Injuries have taken a toll on the visitors who are still seeking their first away win under Pivac.

Scotland go in as odds-on favourites but captain Stuart Hogg knows there is still much to prove.

“What we’ve talked about all this week is that it was one thing being able to win [at Twickenham], it’s another thing to be able to back it up,” said the full-back.

“We’re fully aware of the challenges which are coming our way against this Welsh side but we feel we are in a good place and we’re excited for another challenge.

“They are a fantastic team. They defend really well so we’re going to have to be at our best in terms of our attacking game and our kicking game in order to break them down.

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“And we obviously have to hold firm in defence because they are an exciting team with a lot of key individual talent.

“There are nine Lions involved in this team and numerous boys who have won Grand Slams, so there’s a huge amount of experience and quality within that Welsh side.

“So, it is going to be one hell of a challenge for us, but one that we are excited for.”

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