On The Scotsman iPad app: Allan Massie assesses Scotland’s chances in the Six Nations

FOLLOWING on from successful Heineken Cup campaigns for both Edinburgh and Glasgow, Allan Massie reflects on the improvements evident in Scottish rugby, and the impact it could have on the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

Scotland’s first game is the Calcutta Cup clash against England, at Murrayfield. Scotland coach Andy Robinson reportedly commented earlier this week that England didn’t show Scotland any respect during their World Cup match last year in New Zealand.

Allan Massie writes: “Like many who have been watching Edinburgh I would like to see Robinson being bold enough to play Greig Laidlaw and Mike Blair together at half-back. Laidlaw has a wonderfully cool head and keen eye for what is, or isn’t, on, and in partnership with him Blair has been back in the form which saw him on the short list for the World Player of the Year three seasons ago. I like the way they interchange position and play off each other, rather as Freddie Michalak and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde used to do for Toulouse. They are both creative players such as we need if we are at last to score tries. You won’t win the Six Nations unless you average at least two tries a match, and perhaps more than that.”

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