Will Scotland be the surprise package of the Six Nations?

One week into the Six Nations Championship 2019 and Scotland have made a confident start in a 33-20 victory against Italy at their home ground, Murrayfield Stadium.

It has been 20 years since Scotland reigned as champions, during their 1999 win of the Five Nations title. The team have yet to lift the Championship Trophy for the Six Nations competition.

Head coach Gregor Townsend played during Scotland’s winning 1999 Championship season. Scoring a try against every country, Townsend was monumental in the team’s title glory; their first since 1990. Speaking on the 2019 tournament, Townsend was quoted by the BBC as saying “we are in it to win it” — his assistant Matt Taylor agreed, suggesting it was something the squad discussed “just about every day”.

They have a fight ahead. Scotland have only ever won three of their five matches. Of the three occasions they’ve been victorious, two have been in the past two years — which suggests their strength as a team is building. Will it be enough, this year, to take the team to title-winning glory?

Here’s how it’s looking for Scotland so far.

Scotland vs Italy

Played at Murrayfield, Scotland won their first match of the 2019 Six Nations campaign with a 33-20 victory; only the third time in 20 attempts that Scotland have won the championship opener. The team dominated for most of the game, until Italy finally fought back, scoring a surprise three tries in seven minutes. The highlight of the game was a hat-trick scored by Blair Kinghorn – the team’s first in 30 years.

Scotland vs Ireland

It will be Scotland’s second game of the championship at home, giving them a surefire advantage. Ireland suffered a devastating defeat to England during their opening match at the Aviva Stadium. An elaborate historical rivalry, as well as rising tensions between Glasgow and Munster make this an especially important match for Scotland — and one they have a good chance of winning.

Scotland vs France

Their first away game of the 2019 campaign means that Scotland will have something to prove. Scotland have never won an away game at Paris’ Stade de France, and while the French side hasn’t historically dominated Scotland, they have won more matches, 53-36 with two draws between them. A 2018 victory over France should give Townsend’s team some confidence.

Scotland vs Wales

Played at Murrayfield Stadium, so Scotland regain their home advantage. Scotland were beaten twice by Wales in 2018; a devastating 34-7 during Six Nations, followed by 21-10 during the Autumn internationals.

Scotland vs England

The penultimate game of the championship, Scotland face their final away challenge at Twickenham, where they have never won a match. Last year’s first Calcutta Cup win in a decade, with a 25-13 victory over England, might be an indication of what’s to come.

Key players for a Scottish victory

Half-back and captain Greig Laidlaw is one to watch for the 2019 campaign. In 2015, he became the second Scotsman ever to be nominated for the World Player of the Year award, after leading Scotland to a World Cup quarter-final in England. His move to French team Clermont Auvergne might offer Scotland an edge during away games.

Finn Russell can offer the same international perspective, having moved to Racer 92 in 2018.

“There are definitely things I can bring across,” he said in an interview with The Scotsman.

“Greig Laidlaw playing at Claremont has shown that,” he added. “There are boys in every team who can bring something to the Scotland side.”

The Champions Cup Effect

Outside of the Townsend’s Six Nations side, Scotland has achieved glowing success. Both the country’s professional teams, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have reached Europe’s last eight going into the final round of Champions Cup pool matches.

Their European victories certainly give the team a boost of morale, as well as the field time on away grounds they can use as an edge. It might just be enough to take them beyond their three match cap to Six Nations glory for the first time.