Scotland want to impose their game on Ireland in the opening game of the RBS 6 Nations in Dublin on Sunday, but they’ll take another rearguard action if it gets them the right result.
The Scots’ only two victories over the Irish in the championship over the last decade have both come through backs-to-the-wall defensive stands, four years ago at Croke Park and last year’s extraordinary game at Murrayfield, where the Scots surrendered nearly 80 per cent of possession and territory but somehow still edged the scoreboard.
Assistant coach Duncan Hodge described last year’s contest as “strange” and thought it would have little bearing on this weekend’s championship opener.
“It might have some pointers in terms of traits of Irish teams, but they’ve got a different coach now,” he pointed out.
“Last year and Croke Park four years ago were quite similar, they had a lot of ball, we managed to hang in, and eventually we imposed ourselves on the game.
“That’s not the way we want it to happen by any means, but it’s test match rugby and you can’t expect to have everything go your way. There will be mistakes and a lot depends on how you deal with them.”
The Scots will not be passive in front of an Irish team and crowd geared up after their near miss in their last international against New Zealand and buoyed further by the recent successes of their provincial teams, added Hodge.
“They’ll come out flying but we’ll be flying at them as well,” he said.
“We’re not going over there just to soak up Ireland, we want to impose our game on them. We’ve got a lot of great players and we want them to stand up and be counted.
“Historically, hands up, we’ve not started well in the championship in the last four or five years, so it would be stupid to look any further than Sunday.”
After last year’s preparation before the opener at Twickenham was disrupted by bad weather, the Scots have scheduled their sessions accordingly this time, with the team spending only two hours outside on the Murrayfield back pitches in the drizzle.
Hodge continued: “Weather’s been a big consideration in what we’ve done the last ten days, as last year we were walking off training sessions before England (because of conditions).
“We’ve changed things and done more indoor stuff this time. Obviously this time of year weather is an issue tactically, but we think we’ll have done enough to cope and be flexible enough to deal with what’s thrown at us.”
Head coach Scott Johnson is naming his team today, with only two players sitting out yesterday’s session, neither of whom has been ruled out of making the 23 who will walk out at the Aviva Stadium.
Johnnie Beattie was left at the team hotel with a minor virus which is expected to clear up while Tommy Seymour, an ever-present on the wing in the three Autumn tests, was resting a dead leg sustained in a weekend club match designed to get him more playing time.
It seems likely that Johnson will not gamble on the match-fitness of young centre Matt Scott, who has not played since suffering a broken hand in the final moments of the first Autumn Test against Japan.
It is, however, the hamstring problem that stalled a comeback for Edinburgh in the last fortnight that may have cost Scott his place, although he was running freely and without strapping during Tuesday’s session.
The other main questions for selection are fly-half, where Duncan Weir is the man in possession after the final Autumn Test against Australia and was taking a leading role in the session, and back-row.
Johnson opted for Beattie at blindside flanker with Kelly Brown and David Denton against the Wallabies but has consistently preferred Alasdair Strokosch in the 6 shirt and is expected to revert to the Perpignan player for Dublin.
Meanwhile Scotland squad member Tim Swinson has signed a new three-year deal to stay with Glasgow Warriors.
The 26-year-old came to Scotstoun at the start of last season and has rapidly established himself as a fan favourite there, winning his first cap for his country against South Africa in the summer.
He was man of the match in the opening Autumn Test against Japan, and international recognition has been a significant factor to convincing him to stay on with Glasgow.
He said: “My game has really developed since I came up to Scotland last season and I’m now playing for my country, so it was an easy decision for me to stay.
“I’m ambitious and I want to win trophies and I believe we are building a squad capable of doing that.
“This has been a fantastic move for me and I’m looking forward to the next three years in Glasgow.”
Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “It’s great news for us as a club that we’ve got a long-term commitment from a quality player, who works hard to get better every day.
“In the 18 months he’s been at the club he’s really improved as a player and he’s got that great mix you love to see in a player total effort for the team cause and a desire to improve his game. Now that he’s an international player he’s never looked back.”