This is the best Scotland team in many a year
AWEEk on, it still hurts that we lost to Australia. But it’s different to how I felt following defeat against the same team — and by the same margin — in England just over a year ago.
That hurt, that pain, was a mixture of feeling aggrieved because the laws were not applied as they should have been and incredulity that we were actually so close to getting to the semi-finals of a World Cup.
When something is so close yet taken away, those feelings of anguish are only heightened.
The reason this time is different, though, is because Scotland deserved to be in the lead with only a few minutes on the clock. Unlike last year, we hadn’t relied on a charged-down kick or a sloppy pass from a prop that was intercepted to score the tries that put us in front.
Last week, it was Scotland’s great play that gave them the scoreboard advantage; innovative and collective attack backed up by solid and committed defence.
It was one of the best performances from a Scotland team for many years, certainly the best of Vern Cotter’s reign, and it would have been apt for that level of performance to be rewarded with a victory.
It also taught the team a valuable lesson; you have to maintain that level for the full 80 minutes because the good teams will find a way to win if you give them the opportunity.
A few people have said to me this week: ‘Same old Scotland, lose the game in the final moments’. I couldn’t disagree more.
This was nothing like what we have seen at Murrayfield in the past.
Remember the days when Scotland were one-dimensional in attack? When they would put some big runners down the middle and then try to pick-and-go all the way to the try-line?
Remember when we used to have huge amounts of possession but do nothing creative with it?
This team is nothing like the ‘same old Scotland’. This team played with a vibrancy and accuracy that was just brilliant to see and you only had to be inside Murrayfield to hear what the fans thought of it, as well.
It was one of the best atmospheres I have experienced at the old stadium and it was all down to the efforts of the team.
Collectively, the performance was good, but some of the individual efforts were off the scale.
Over the years in this column, I have enthused about Jonny Gray and his work-rate. Well, he took things to another level last week.
He was Scotland’s top tackler, with 24, and also made the most carries, with 15. Normally, someone is renowned for their defence or their work-rate in attack. Very rarely, if ever, is the top tackler the same person who makes the most carries.
It was a phenomenal effort by the younger Gray and he, like so many others, deserved to be on the winning team.
That is the goal today. A win is so important to keep the momentum going that was created in defeat last week. Injuries were a factor in the game against the Wallabies and they have been a factor in selection for today.
Richie Gray and John Hardie are out, while Ryan Wilson is only fit enough for the bench. So in come Grant Gilchrist and debutant Magnus Bradbury for his first cap.
It has been a stunning rise for Bradbury this season. He has been outstanding for Edinburgh and has now been duly rewarded with his cap.
What it means, though, is this must be one of the youngest Scotland teams ever to be fielded.
The average age of the team is 24, which is hugely impressive, and means that the future is bright. There are a couple of ‘old’ heads there in Greig Laidlaw and John Barclay, which are essential and they will share their experience with the youngsters.
Barclay will be able to help Bradbury through his first start, while Laidlaw has had a great influence over the likes of Finn Russell.
So, there is nothing the ‘same’ or, indeed, ‘old’ about this Scotland team. They are a team of youngsters playing with a freedom and confidence backed up by a good structure and sheer hard-work that makes them very exciting to watch.
They did everything but win the game last week, which makes a victory today so important.
Argentina will offer a very different proposition to Australia, very physical and direct, but they have developed their game as well to add real flair in the backs and are a top-class team.
If this young Scotland team plays at the level they did last week for the full 80 minutes, then they will win.
“We are playing free-flowing rugby that is exciting for fans to watch