WARREN Gatland was considered to have snubbed Scotland when he selected his British & Irish Lions squad last summer, but the Wales head coach has now tipped Gregor Townsend’s side to challenge for the NatWest Six Nations title.
In spite of their improved showing in last year’s Championship only two Scots were named in the original Lions squad which headed to New Zealand, but as Gatland anticipated the 2018 tournament opener during yesterday’s official launch in London, he expressed considerable respect for a team that now sits fifth in the world rankings, two places above his side.
“The challenge is the way they are playing at the moment,” he said of what confronts his men.
“They are playing with high tempo and they have done really well in the last couple of seasons.”
While questions have been raised about whether a Scotland side that came close to making history against the All Blacks in November then thrashed the Wallabies the following week will deal as well with teams that are prepared to play a more set-piece oriented game, they are facing a Wales team that has similarly been looking to play more openly in recent times. Gatland consequently suggested that it could make for a real spectacle in The Principality Stadium on February 5.
“It is a great game to get first up,” he said.
“It’s at home and I think Scotland’s win against Wales [last year] was the first time in 10 years, so the players will be pretty focused and motivated. It’s a game that will really focus the mind in terms of preparation and hopefully getting the tournament off to a good start.”
His message to his men will be to expect the unexpected.
“They are going to play with high tempo,” Gatland anticipated.
“We are going to have to be prepared for the unexpected - quick throw-ins, quick taps, moving the ball from behind their own goal line. They have serious running threats in players like Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg. We have to look after them. They are a team that is prepared to take risks.”
However, he hinted at the reason he has been so loath to select Scottish players on the two Lions tours that he has overseen.
“It has been pleasing to see Scotland improve in the last couple of seasons,” he said. “Potentially, they are serious contenders in the Six Nations. Prior to last season they haven’t been that, making up… or filling the lower positions in the table. But I think they are now a serious threat. That makes the tournament unpredictable and incredibly exciting as well.”
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