Conditions were hideous at Firhill on Friday night but they may have been ideal for Scottish rugby. In terms of the approach required to beat the Ospreys the weather forced the issue.

Conditions were hideous at Firhill on Friday night but they may have been ideal for Scottish rugby. In terms of the approach required to beat the Ospreys the weather forced the issue. If the minds of the Glasgow Warriors forwards were not already focused - though in fairness every indication had been that they were - then as they attempted to warm up all doubts were erased.

It was a night for those great rugby virtues of togetherness and directness as, on the last day of a leap-year February, many of us watched a Scottish professional team win a match in Scotland for the first time in 2008. In the early moments that old-fashioned expression that you could have put a blanket over half a dozen of the Warriors pack at any one time has rarely been more true as they piled into the Magners League champions. Those not powering forward were continuously readying themselves for the next phase, saying which Donny Macfadyen seemed to be to the fore no matter how often they recycled the ball.

The Warriors could and probably should have won by more than 9-6, but this was the way Scottish teams have won matches in recent times. Playing to their strengths, seeking to dominate territory and possession to force errors, then kicking the ball over the bar.

In his time as Scotland coach, Frank Hadden's teams have won half-a-dozen matches against teams rated higher than or close to them in the world rankings, a vastly improved strike rate, it should be noted, on either of his predecessors Ian McGeechan and Matt Williams. In little more than two years he achieved what McGeechan failed to during four on his second stint as Scotland coach by beating all five of the other teams that contest the Six Nations Championship. However, only against France, in his first championship match in charge, when a fired-up Sean Lamont turned from winger to wing forward for one of his two scores, then against an essentially second string Ireland in a World Cup warm-up match this season, have tries been the critical factor in earning victories.

Wins over England in 2006, Wales last year and Italy at this season's World Cup were achieved with nothing but successful kicks at goal. Chris Paterson did score a try during the 13-10 win in Rome in 2006, but it was his penalty strike that won another low-scoring game. When Scotland should have beaten Ireland last year, losing by a single point, that golden right boot again provided all the points.

After a catastrophic start to a championship of which much was expected, Hadden should have all his most influential forwards available for the first time in this campaign when they meet England in the Calcutta Cup match on Saturday. This is a chance to refocus on what they are good at and the weekend offered a reminder of those strengths.

If Jason White, the squad's spiritual leader who was frustrated at not getting a game for Sale on Friday, and Simon Taylor, to whom Hadden refers as their "warrior", are at anything close to their full powers they must surely play, in spite of the temptation to reward Al Strokosch for a fine championship debut in Dublin. Scotland's management could revert to the great back-row which was the outstanding unit in the 2006 championship, but John Barclay is another genuine class act who adds an extra dimension, which would leave Ally Hogg to make his impact from the bench.

If all find their best form a repeat of the epic win of two years ago is not unimaginable. If they continue to be distracted by calls to "develop their game" or "entertain the public" another chastening experience awaits. Whether Glasgow's pack collectively or Taylor individually best fit the description is in the eye of the beholder, but the weekend provided a reminder that the way of the warrior is, for this limited but committed Scotland team, the only way forward in the short term.