Scotland’s Six Nations Squad: McDowall Steps Up and Gray Returns
Gregor Townsend’s Scotland squad for their opening Six Nations clash against Italy has been revealed, with a mix of familiar faces and exciting prospects vying for glory. While the team selection largely adheres to expectations, the inclusion of Dave Cherry at hooker stands out as a notable change.
The return of experienced lock Jonny Gray after a near two-year absence marks a significant boost to the Scottish pack, filling the void left by the unavailable Scott Cummings.
In the centers, Stafford McDowall earns a well-deserved starting spot, replacing the injured Sione Tuipulotu. McDowall’s impressive performance in his first Six Nations start last March against Ireland provided a glimpse of his potential, and Scotland fans will be hoping for more of the same as he steps up to fill a critical role.
McDowall’s Brighter Outlook
The news of Sione Tuipulotu’s injury and subsequent absence from this year’s Six Nations championship naturally cast a shadow over the team. Tuipulotu’s phenomenal form for both club and country made him a cornerstone of Scotland’s backline, and his absence is a significant blow.
However, Scotland supporters can find a sliver of optimism in the opportunity presented to Stafford McDowall. McDowall showcased his talents last March in the match against Ireland, despite the final scoreline of 17-13. His contributions that day underlined the significant strides he has made in recent seasons, establishing himself as one of Glasgow’s standout performers.
Scotland’s Rising Stars: Stafford McDowall & Darcy Graham Brace for Springing Back
Scotland’s roster is brimming with talent,and two players set to make major impacts this Six Nations are Stafford McDowall and darcy Graham. Both have faced challenges on their individual paths to the top, but their resilience and dedication have paid off. McDowall, a dynamic center, earned his first Six Nations start against Ireland at the end of the 2024 Championship, a testament to his hard work and determination. Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend expressed his immense pride in McDowall’s journey, stating, “stafford, of any player I believe I’ve worked with over the last few years, is the most deserving of getting this opportunity. The adversity he’s had to go through,the hard work he puts in continually – I’m sure he’s going to go and grab his opportunity,like he did in Ireland.”
McDowall possesses the perfect blend of physicality, precision passing, and a reliable boot, making him a true triple threat. Townsend highlights McDowall’s well-honed skills and the confidence he brings to the pitch, especially after his impressive showing in Dublin. Townsend underscores McDowall’s strength. “He’s got cohesion there, having played with Huw (Jones) on a number of occasions. Whenever he’s been given the opportunity, whether on the summer tour or November Tests, he’s really stepped up.He’s a very good player, Stafford, he’ll bring his own strengths to the game.”
On the wings, Darcy Graham returns to the six Nations fold after a two-year absence due to injury. Graham is a lightning-fast, explosive player who has already etched his name into Scotland’s try-scoring history, sitting second on the all-time list with 29 tries from 42 appearances. since returning to full fitness, Townsend observes a newfound maturity and tactical awareness in Graham’s game. “He wasn’t very happy with his performances in November – we were, and I’m sure the public were – but he knows there’s more in him and he’s improved physically a lot,” Townsend explains. “I think you see him getting on the ball more and more. He rides those big tackles and then he’s good to go again and his link play is something that’s really impressed us. He’s now giving as many try assists as he is scoring tries and we just want to see him get on the ball as much as possible.”
This progression, according to Townsend, is due to Graham’s ongoing pursuit of improvement. “He is developing that wider game, that ball-playing ability, his aerial skills too. It’s something he feels not only he can improve but it can really be another weapon for him, with the attacking kicks that you can get through more. He’s getting up to win those balls either cleanly or knocking them back.” The combination of McDowall’s strength and Graham’s electrifying speed positions Scotland for serious success in the coming six Nations.
Gregor Brown is knocking on Scotland’s starting second-row door. The 23-year-old Glasgow forward is rapidly establishing himself as a key player for the national team, pushing seasoned veterans Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray for a starting berth.
Brown’s versatility, ability to play both flanker and lock, has earned him the moniker “flock” from Warriors head coach Franco Smith. He burst onto the Test scene last summer, earning two starts at number six and one at lock, plus an appearance off the bench against Fiji. A brief injury setback later saw him sidelined against South Africa, but his dedication and performances haven’t gone unnoticed.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is particularly impressed with Brown’s line-out prowess and technical skillset. “Gregor was very close to being on the bench against South Africa when we were looking at a 6-2 split,” Townsend revealed. “Sadly, he was injured and wasn’t able to play that game. Since then, it’s not the bench option we’re looking at, we’re looking at him pushing for a starting place.”
Townsend continued, praising Brown’s attributes: “On the summer tour, John Dalziel kept giving me feedback on how natural a line-out forward he is, how easy he is to lift, how quickly he gets off the ground. We were also seeing in his game real skill at ball carrying, passing, a nuisance and aggressive in defense. To put them together, as he has done throughout December and into January, is really good.”
While Brown may not be the biggest second-row by conventional standards, standing at 6ft 3in and weighing 109kg, Townsend believes his technical abilities more than compensate for any perceived physical limitations. “It’s what they do technically to make sure that they are delivering in the set-piece, in the maul and in the loose,” Townsend explained.
Brown’s emergence is a promising sign for Scotland, indicating a strong and competitive pool of talent vying for places within the squad. His dedication, versatility, and impressive skillset make him a player to watch in the coming years.
Scotland kick-off their Six Nations campaign looking to build momentum after a string of successful opening rounds. Under Gregor Townsend’s leadership, Scotland has triumphed in their initial match for each of the last four years. Notably, wins against England twice, and Wales once, illustrate their growing ability to compete amongst rugby’s elite.However, their early successes often falter against Ireland. Despite Scotland’s recent dominance against Italy, earning a hat-trick from Blair Kinghorn, Townsend remains cautious.
“I’ll tell you in a couple of weeks” he grinned when asked about navigating the Irish hurdle.
While Scotland opens with two crucial home fixtures against Italy and ireland, Townsend recognizes the importance of securing victories across all venues.
“But you’ve got to win away from home in this tournament as well, and the focus over the last couple of years has really narrowed on producing our best performances to start tournaments. We just have to do that this year at home,” Townsend emphasized.
Having secured consecutive Calcutta Cup victories over England, Scotland’s upcoming matches against familiar rivals Italy, Ireland, and Wales will offer crucial insights into their championship ambitions.
Cultivating Optimism: A Key Ingredient for Tournament Success
The buildup to any major sporting tournament is electrifying, filled with anticipation and excitement. For coaches, managing this energy and channeling it into focused performance is crucial. While acknowledging the natural highs and hopes surrounding a team, it’s equally important to ensure players stay grounded and driven by the present moment.
“This is a more experienced team in terms of caps (707 in the starting XV) than we played in our last game, which was a very good win against Australia, so this team should be able to build on what we did in November,” stated the head coach, emphasizing the team’s growth and past victories.
“as a coach, you are trying to create an undercurrent of optimism.You’ve got to sell your attacking game plan, your defensive game plan to the players and say, ‘this is going to bring us success’. Optimism is always something we would want in a group,” the coach continued, highlighting the power of a positive mindset and the importance of selling a shared vision to the players.
However, the coach also cautioned against allowing the focus to shift prematurely to the ultimate goal. “I think the distraction of thinking of the end goal before putting in the work,that’s what you don’t want. that might have come in a few times over the last few years when we get past a couple of games and we haven’t been totally focused for those 80 minutes,” he explained.
This tournament presents a fresh opportunity, and the coach is persistent to keep his players laser-focused on the task at hand. “That’s going to be something to keep an eye on this tournament. It’s something we’ve talked about with the players. But for this first game, so much work goes in just to make sure we’ve got that clarity and cohesion, the players won’t be thinking past Saturday,” he concluded, emphasizing the need for present-moment dedication and unwavering focus.
