Saving the best for last is always slightly better than peaking too soon.
Scotland bookended 2022 with their two best results and performances. It’s surely no coincidence Finn Russell was at the heart of both. This year’s entirely unnecessary intrigue is still puzzling.
But at least, after the Puma game on Saturday, the air is cleared and the direction is obvious. Better these distractions in 2022 than 2023, I guess.
Sustaining the last game into consistency is the obvious aim. It may not come straight away – the next three games are England away, Wales home and France away.
There are also things to sort. They finished a ten minute spell three men to the good at 7-7 on Saturday.
But the feeling coming away from Murrayfield is that Scotland, seemingly stagnant for much of the year, are bubbling again.
Here’s where I think we are after a mixed Autumn campaign.
Attack
A smile of a man who didn’t put a foot wrong!! Absolute class yesterday. His entire backline – centres, wings, full back – all scored.. that is a decent day for a 10! @Scotlandteam @finn_russell pic.twitter.com/YwdlUqclCy
— Will Greenwood (@WillGreenwood) November 20, 2022
When Finn’s at the controls and in the mood, no issue. Well, nearly none.
The pack again aren’t punching in chances as they might. There was one try – George Turner against Fiji – from them in the four tests despite many promising situations. There’s also a tendency for head-down carries when there is space outside.
But with the 10 and back three they have, Scotland can strike from anywhere.
Defence
Not quite up to the standard of 2021, but still decent. Chris Harris is the lynchpin – it was glaring how much the All Blacks prospered after he was subbed.
Forward defence is fine but you’d like to see more threat on opposition ball than was shown in the last three tests.
Front row/scrummage
An injury here or there to certain key personnel could have them struggling.
First choice props, no issue. Pierre Schoeman or Rory Sutherland on one side, Zander all day on the tight-head. But beyond Fagerson we have opposite ends of the spectrum, WP Nel (36, 333 pro games) or Murphy Walker (23, 9 pro games).
Walker’s simply not getting enough rugby at Glasgow. Townsend and scrum coach Pieter De Villiers say they don’t order Franco Smith to play him, but they probably need to. Why Edinburgh has so many non-Scottish Qualified (SQ) props is anyone’s guess.
At hooker, Fraser Brown seems a little more fragile with age. Stuart McInally has only played for the Barbarians lately, and George Turner is suddenly 30.
We could have done to see more Ewan Ashman this autumn but a shoulder niggle intervened.
Second row/lineout/maul
Townsend publicly praised John Dalziel’s unit but I thought it was a mixed bag.
The maul never really imposed itself, and the lineout was skittish against Argentina when Richie Gray was banned. Both Turner and Brown’s throwing wasn’t always reliable.
Scott Cummings should come back into the picture. The elder Gray is again ahead of his brother (I always thought he was, for what it’s worth).
Grant Gilchrist is a yeoman figure at the heart of it all, but you wouldn’t mind a little more dynamism there.
Worth more of a look at Glen Young? Certainly in the four (blimey!) RWC warm-ups.
Back row
Frustrating end to my autumn Internationals. But thank you to all the fans for always making Murrayfield so incredible. A very special moment I will never forget when Doddie and his family brought out the match ball. He’s an absolute legend and an inspiration to so many 🙌💙 pic.twitter.com/rOx49GB1NL
— Hamish Watson (@hamishwatson7) November 15, 2022
Although he was flying against the All Blacks before head-butting Jordie Barrett’s hip, Hamish Watson wasn’t quite as prominent this autumn.
Rory Darge was injured, and Townsend opted not to have another look at Luke Crosbie or one of the promising Edinburgh loosies.
Jamie Ritchie played himself back in gently after his long injury gap. It’s funny how he always seems to be the target of red card offences.
Seriously, it’s not coincidental at all. He should be back to firing on all cylinders in 2023.
No 8 remains a discussion. You suspect the management team will settle for Matt Fagerson. He’s really good at what he does, but is not quite the imposing, physical option they could do with.
But those others they’ve tried, Magnus Bradbury in the Six Nations and Jack Dempsey this autumn, made little impact.
Half-backs
Ali Price started all four tests at 9. Why?
Ben White looked decent in three replacement runs and George Horne, the best form scrum-half, got about 10 minutes. At least look at what else they have there.
As for 10, ‘nuff said.
I wonder about Blair Kinghorn’s state of mind after being mucked around like this for no good reason. But his campaign-ending Instagram post (I know, rolls eyes) has a prominent shot of him with 10 on his back, suggesting he’s up for a fight.
In any case, he’s a really good utility option off the bench.
Midfield
Picked to start nine tests in 2022, Sione Tuipulotu finally answered any questions against the Pumas.
Previously I thought he looked like another of these useful SQ finds who monster the Italians and Welsh in the UFC but was less imposing against the Irish provinces or in internationals. Nice to be proven wrong.
He or Cam Redpath are the discussion at 12, although either can slot out to 13. Chris Harris is the starting 13, for defence as much as anything. Should we be concerned he only played an hour in each of the last two tests?
Back three
All-time top 10 and not finished yet 👏@Darcy_Graham | #AsOne pic.twitter.com/TPXPbB7UDq
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 20, 2022
Our cup runneth over. With Stuart Hogg suddenly sparking into form against New Zealand, Scotland had a trio as good as anything we’ve had for decades. Better than Hastings, Tukalo and Stanger, in my opinion.
Darcy Graham has become every bit as much a crucial star as his fellow Hawick Teri. Duhan van der Merwe is still devastating going forward (less so in his habit of running sideways) but becoming a more rounded player on both sides of the ball.
In reserve, there’s Kinghorn. But Ollie Smith looked great against Australia, Rufus McLean is really good and Kyle Steyn will not let anyone down if called on.
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