There is, apparently, a feel good factor within Scottish sport again which hadn’t been there for much of the downbeat noughties.
Aside from Andy Murray, Wimbledon and all that, both the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup will be hosted by Scotland this year, and there's an even a more upbeat view of Scottish football and rugby under Gordon Strachan and, for the time being Scott Johnson, after the dark blues finished third in last season's Six Nations.
Needless to say there’s no better man than the Australian to warmly embrace the improved mood. “I don’t think it’s extra pressure, I think it’s a benefit,” enthuses Johnson. “You ride a wave, don’t you? You like to get drawn into it. People get confident. There are good stories to tell there. It’s fantastic. Everyone looks at the negative. In life you hear the negative far quicker than the positive.
“The positive stories coming out about the success the nation has had is a great story. It shows Scottish lads they are no different to any other kid. It’s one of the themes I tell the Scottish kids I come across when they ask me to speak at schools or anything. It’s the same theme. ‘You’re no better and you’re no worse. If you try hard and train hard, you’ll be as good as anyone.’ They’re good stories and I’m happy to get my surfboard out and ride on the back of that wave.”
Since finishing third last season, both the summer series in South Africa which embraced matches against the hosts, Samoa and Italy, and the autumn matches against Japan, South Africa and Australia were seen as further enhancing the development and strength in depth of the Scottish team.
Ball-carrying forwards
There is, understandably, huge hope hinging on the shoulders of the pacey and talented Stuart Hogg as well as his fellow Lion, the kilted Kiwi Sean Maitland. The selection of a big side with ball-carrying forwards and midfielders appears intent on creating space for them and Sean Lamont, although the omission of the creative Matt Scott is thus a surprise. Furthermore, the selection of Duncan Weir outside Greig Laidlaw would also seem to suggest the Scots will be placing an emphasis on kicking the ball too.
Settled squad
Asked what's different between this season's Scottish team and the one which claimed third place last season by dint of home wins over Italy and Ireland, Johnson said: "I think we've got a pretty settled squad going in now. It's probably not finished with regard to composition for spots for the World Cup but it's pretty settled and now it's about trying to see if we can get settled performances too."
Johnson admits Scotland are “not quite with the big boys yet” in terms of resources, and has targeted Scotland remaining competitive in all of their game until the 60 mintue mark to therefore create “scoreboard pressure”.
Certainly Ireland will be more aware than anyone of Scotland’s ability to create scoreboard pressure, yet bearing in mind how Ireland imploded in Murrayfield last year, third place perhaps flattered them as their only other win was at home to Italy. Indeed, that remains their first top-half finish since Frank Hadden’s first campaign in 2006 when the Scots beat France and England at home before winning in Rome. That also remains the only time they’ve had a better than 50 per cent winning ratio in their five games.
Akin to Ireland, when Scotland are going well, they welcome the biennial itinerary which gives them home games against England and France, but less so when they are not going well. As in 2004, two years ago they finished last and pointless with this itinerary, while in 2008 and 2010 they won only one match in each campaign to finish fifth.
The Italian Federation receive plenty of criticism for their failure to develop their two professional sides since being granted membership of the old tournament, yet with far more history, a more sizeable chunk of Six Nations and ERC money, not to mention a share of the Lions profits, the SRU have not done much better. To not have a team in the Borders would be akin to the IRFU letting Munster go out of existence, never mind Connacht, and the Scottish club game is also struggling.
The lack of competitiveness that comes with only having two teams remains a huge handicap. Nine of tomorrow's starting team are with Glasgow who, for all their evident progress under Gregor Townsend last season, have just finished bottom of their Heineken Cup pool for the third season running.
Three of the side – the Saracens duo of captain Kelly Brown and centre Duncan Taylor, along with Montpellier lock Jim Hamilton – as well as three of the bench are based abroad. There does appear to be more talent coming through, but the now long-established handicaps still leaves the Scottish team having to punch above its weight.
