John Barclay understands that Scotland have to give a reason for Wales to respect them starting today in Principality Stadium.
Scotland haven’t beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2002, nor anywhere since 2008 and not at all since Warren Gatland took over the reins of the men in red and turned them into consistent and regular contenders for the RBS 6 Nations title.
The Scots remain confident they can break that record despite last week’s loss in the 2016 championship opener to England, but Barclay, who is based in Wales with Scarlets, accepts that only actions will restore Scotland’s reputation in the valleys, which despite last year’s tight game at Murrayfield is still largely based on the 51-3 humiliation two years ago, the last time they met in the now “rebranded” Millennium Stadium.
“I guess you’d have to ask them to find out what they really think about us, but we haven’t beaten them for a number of years so you can probably guess,” said the flanker.
“Bottom line is we have to give them a reason to respect us. We finished bottom of the pile last year so we have to show them.
“I think they know we have good players but they also know we haven’t put it together just yet.”
Barclay admits he enjoys playing against his old team and clubmates from Glasgow, and he doesn’t expect the experience to be any different against his pals from the Scarlets.
“When I first went to Scarlets, I always thought it would be good craic to play against them, but I’ve had to wait four and a half years to do it,” he said.
“I’m certainly looking forward to it. We haven’t had this rivalry before, but I bet it’s like playing an old club; whenever I play against Glasgow I really enjoy it and I guess in some ways playing the Welsh in Wales has that element now.”
The difference is that living in Wales near Swansea in “Ospreys territory” rather than Llanelli Barclay has no doubt that rugby is an obsession and the people in the street know him and want to talk about it.
“There’s that huge interest, you walk down the street and every day someone will stop and talk to you about rugby,” he said.
“Glasgow was different because you could float about anonymously, but in Wales people want to talk to you. They are supportive and they’re certainly passionate about their rugby.
“They’re not slow to tell you if you’ve had a bad game but they’ll have a laugh about it. In that respect they’re very similar to Scots.”
After missing out on the World Cup Barclay signed a new contract with Scarlets, but low and behold he found himself back in the fold for the start of the Six Nations, playing his first game since 2012 against England at the weekend.
“It was certainly very special for me,” he continued. “After the World Cup I didn’t think I would be selected again so I just got my head down and got on with my own business.
“To come back and play for Scotland at Murrayfield was a huge thrill, it was great to have my family there and the atmosphere was incredible.
“Of course, you have to balance that with the disappointment of the result, but that’s in the past now and I’ve forgotten it already.
“I don’t think I dramatically changed my game (since missing the RWC squad). There are different ways to play the game and perhaps Vern is thinking about that by bringing me back.”
And his knowledge of Wales and its players has been tapped into by the coaches and squad.
“A couple of times this week Vern has asked me what I’ve seen and what I think. “Greig (Laidlaw) has asked me a couple of times too and I’m happy to give my opinion.
“There’s enough footage out there for everyone to have a clear understanding, though, I think.
“I’ve played a few Judgement Day matches (when the four Welsh regions play back to back matches in Principality Stadium) for Scarlets and I like the roof closed.
“I think it’s the best stadium in the world in terms of atmosphere anyway but when the roof is closed it raises it a notch, there’s another dimension to it.”
The roof was open the last time he played for Scotland there, however, in the fateful 2010 game where Shane Williams’ try deep in injury-time won it for Wales after Thom Evans, Chris Paterson and Rory Lamont were all seriously injured and the Scots were reduced to 13 men.
“We lost that game and I still don’t know how, it is the most disappointing game of rugby I’ve ever been involved in,” he recalled
“Usually after a few days I’ve bounced back from losses and moved on, but that was a disaster for us, we threw that away in the last play of the game.
“We drew with England and beat Ireland and it was a good championship to be involved in but that match does stand out for all the wrong reasons.
“I haven’t even watched it. Someone pulled it up on Youtube the other day but I still couldn’t watch it.”