Tom English and Andy Burke chat to Scottish Rugby's new CEO Alex Williamson, plus Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend discusses his team selection for Saturday's Scotland's Six Nations opener at Murrayfield.
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSGregor Townsend has been speaking to the media after naming his Scotland team to face Italy in Saturday's Six Nations opener at Murrayfield.
Here are the key points from the head coach:
Townsend says he selected Dave Cherry over Ewan Ashman based on good form for Edinburgh and his stronger set-piece game.
He adds: "We see a lot of positives in his game and how a lot of that work around contact allows others to play."
Stafford McDowall has earned the 12 jersey in Sione Tuipulotu's absence. Townsend cites his impressive performance in Dublin last season when Tuipulotu was out injured and says: "Whenever he's been given the opportunity, whether on summer tour or November Test, he's really stepped. He's a very good player, Stafford, he'll bring his own strengths to the game."
On Jonny Gray being ready for a first cap in two years despite not playing for six weeks: "What impressed us last week is that he trained fully and got up to speed really quickly."
Darcy Graham - selected for his first Six Nations game since March 2022 - is "a big player for us" and has become a more rounded performer in the last year.
Graham has as many assists as tries now and Townsend adds: "He wasn't very happy with his performances in November whereas we were and I'm sure the public were. He knows there's more in him and he's improved physically a lot."
On the challenge Italy will pose: "They're a confident team in terms of the wins they've delivered together. They're a fit team, they play a brand of rugby which is very structured but also they have the individual talent and the ambition to move the ball wide and they'll be physical."
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer
Image source, SNSDave Cherry starts at the expense of Ewan Ashman at Murrayfield on Saturday
The selection of Dave Cherry, uncapped since September 2023, for Scotland's Six Nations opener against Italy is a gobsmacking move from Gregor Townsend.
Cherry fell down the stairs of the Scotland team hotel in Nice during the World Cup, invalided himself out of the tournament and hasn't been seen since in the Test arena. Now he starts ahead of Ewan Ashman.
He's a solid operator, a good lineout thrower, a decent physical presence, but his inclusion is still a shock. He has rarely suggested he is a frontline Six Nations hooker.
Townsend has gone with a failing Edinburgh team's second and, occasionally, third-choice hooker ahead of Johnny Matthews, winner of the URC with Glasgow.
Matthews, of course, is not in the squad at all. Dylan Richardson, second choice during the autumn, is injured. It's all getting a bit surreal.
Darcy Graham makes a long-awaited return to championship rugby having, incredibly, not played a Six Nations game since March 2022. Stafford McDowall is at 12, as expected.
Jack Dempsey, undercooked, is on the bench for impact. Jonny Gray, also undercooked, starts.
Gray hasn't played in six weeks and has only had three games since the end of October. Where a few weeks ago all was well with this squad, now it's looking uncertain in too many areas.
Dave Cherry is a surprise starter for Scotland's Six Nations opener at home to Italy on Saturday.
The Edinburgh hooker and Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray both earn their first caps in two years, while Stafford McDowall replaces injured captain and Glasgow team-mate Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre.
Has Gregor Townsend got the big selection calls right?
Let us know your thoughts on the Scotland XV, external
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Alex Williamson did not seek out Mark Dodson for advice before taking on the job as Scottish Rugby's new chief executive, but he seems to have learned some lessons from his predecessor, such as not coming out the gate with eye-catching statements of intent.
Shortly after taking charge in 2011, Dodson set out a four-year strategy that included winning a Six Nations Grand Slam and the Rugby World Cup.
Williamson, on first impressions, is a character in stark contrast to the bullish Dodson. In his first session with the media he was keen to lay out an ambitious plan for the union, minus the any proclamations of world domination.
"I think we can be highly influential on the international stage," Williamson said on the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast.
"We can be very competitive from a playing perspective. I think our pathways can be good. And we can be outstanding at delivering the on-day experience, whether that be men's, women's, young players, or for just entertainment purposes.
"And if you can get all of those together, why can't you be the leading union? It doesn't mean you're necessarily winning the World Cup, but it does mean that you're recognised around the world as being absolutely top-drawer at what you do. And that's kind of what I'm after."
Williamson describes himself "relatively low ego" and confirmed his pay packet will be lower than the exorbitant salary and bonuses pocketed by his predecessor that so infuriated Scottish rugby fans.
Having been in the job just over a week, the CEO is still getting is feet under the table, but knows the big challenges awaiting in his in-tray.
Revamping Murrayfield is high on the list. Whether that is transforming the stadium and campus for sporting and cultural events to grow revenue, or simply sorting the more mundane and urgent priorities like fixing the toilets.
It all comes at a cost, and for a union that posted a £11.3m loss in their last set of published accounts, it is a challenge.
"We're not going to be able to do Murrayfield in one [go]. But sensible levels, as in fix stuff that doesn't work, and drive things that are going to improve our revenues, that's all do-able," Williamson said.
Sorting the business side of the operation is what Williamson has brought in to do, but what fans want to see is successful clubs and national team.
The strong sense is that performance director David Nucifora – "the big brain rugby IP that Scottish rugby needs", as Williamson describes him – has been given the keys to the entire rugby operation and the big decisions relating to on-field matters will rest with him.
Upgrading Murrayfield, financing the national sides and pro teams, diverting resources to the pathway, all against a brutally tough financial backdrop – Williamson has a big job on his hands.
Image source, SNSAlex Williamson has just started his role as chief executive of Scottish Rugby
BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.
Chris asked: Is confidence in Scotland's ability so fragile that the loss of Sione Tuipulotu shatters any possibility of success? There has been so much positive progress that there should be confidence.
Tom answered: Well, if you took Antoine Dupont out of the France side then that's a team that is dramatically weakened. Tuipulotu is Scotland's Dupont.
Tuipulotu is one of the best 12s in world rugby, so of course his loss is going to hurt hugely. In attack, defence and his smarts as a leader, his loss is a massive one.
But the hits to the confidence don't end there. Scott Cummings and Max Williamson are both very physical lock forwards and they're a big loss in a tournament where power usually wins.
Jonny Gray hasn't played in six weeks. Dylan Richardson, the reserve hooker, is out and his replacement, Dave Cherry, hasn't played a Test match since September 2023. Cherry will be on the bench against Italy. There's nobody else.
And there's no Josh Bayliss and no Andy Christie as bench options. It's really been a horrible preamble on many fronts.
Greg asked: Why are all international players not treated the same with regard to availability over international periods no matter where they play?
Tom answered: Deals can be done with certain clubs to rest players - the RFU pay the English clubs a lot of money for the privilege - but elsewhere it's entirely down to the club whether they want to do it. The more important the player the less likely they might be to rest him.
Bath are paying Finn Russell a fortune and had a big game on Sunday, so why should they rest their best player just because Scotland would like them to?
Gregor Townsend would love to have all these guys under SRU control, as is the case in Ireland, but the SRU can't afford it.
Hence, Josh Bayliss plays on Sunday and gets injured. There's not a lot that can be done about that.
BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.
David asked: Probably like many others I'm sure: Alexander Masibaka. Your thoughts on his selection and prospects?
Tom answered: I heard about it on Sunday night and we broke the story on here on Monday morning. Like most other people my first reaction was 'Who?'
I've only seen brief highlights online, the same as everybody else. He's big and powerful and looks pretty speedy, but we're looking at him playing in the French second tier.
It's a decent level (there's a Pro D2 player in the France squad) but I'm looking to hear from other players how he's shown up in training this week.
Scotland have plenty of depth at eight. Jack Dempsey, Josh Bayliss, Jack Mann, Matt Fagerson (when not playing six), Ben Muncaster, Magnus Bradbury. You could put Andy Christie in there without any worries.
Four of them are unavailable right now, so Masibaka is in. Unless he absolutely tears it up in training I can't see him being involved in the Six Nations. He's only 23, though. If he shows up well then we might see him in the Test arena one day.
Henry asked: Could we try Tom Jordan at 10 and Finn Russell at 12 on Saturday, with Huw Jones at 13? This would leave George Horne and Stafford McDowall as the two bench backs. Plenty of experience.
Tom answered: That would be pretty radical. I really think you need one of the best 10s in the world playing 10, especially given his experience and his cohesion with what is largely a very settled backline.
Russell's kicking, passing and running game can do more damage at 10 than anywhere else.
I'd go McDowall and Jones at 12-13. McDowall's physicality will be important. There's going to be some huge units running down that channel.
Jordan will be vital coming off the bench. His versatility gives Gregor Townsend the option to have a 6-2 if he wants it. Or if he has any fit forwards to fill it!
Adam asked: Ali Price has served Scotland very well, a great player in his day and his tactical nous is undoubtedly very good, but is his speed of delivery anywhere near where it needs to be, please?
Tom answered: I think it's a long road back for Price. He played against Fiji in the first match of the autumn and Townsend was bigging up his form at the time.
I thought he was over-egging the praise, to be honest. Price was an outstanding player and a Lion, but he hasn't been since that Fiji game and isn't in the Six Nations squad.
Ben White, George Horne and Jamie Dobie are all ahead of him. After that, it's Gus Warr, Price and Ben Afshar in whatever order you prefer. I wouldn't write him off, but he will be 32 in May and has traffic ahead of him.
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSScotland defence coach Steve Tandy in training
Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy says last year's defeat in Rome is still fresh in the mind as the Scots prepare to host Italy in Saturday's Six Nations opener.
The loss at the Stadio Olimpico buried Scotland's title hopes last season and Tandy says his team are fully aware of the dangers in the Azzurri side.
"It's definitely been referenced around the learning," Tandy said of that defeat.
"It was an experience that we didn't like, weren't happy with, but I think we've grown.
"We put a performance in the week after, and ultimately we've had a good autumn, and we know how good Italy are. There's a lot of consistency around the boys playing for Treviso. You see the guys as well, some big players playing in France.
"So we know and totally respect what Italy do. They're a really good outfit, well-organised, well-drilled. So we know how we're going to have to put in a complete performance on Saturday."
Tandy confirmed that Duhan van der Merwe, Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist and Luke Crosbie all took part in training ahead of the match on Saturday.
With the opener against Italy this weekend fast approaching, injured fly-half Adam Hastings discusses Scotland's Six Nations hopes with Tom English and Andy Burke.
Sandy Smith
Fan writer
If Sergio Leone had watched Scarlets v Edinburgh he may have called his legendary spaghetti western, The Good, the Bad and the Piardi.
Let's start with the bad. Edinburgh's discipline was as poor as I've seen it for quite some time. Four penalties conceded in the first 13 minutes gave Scarlets a 6-0 leg up without them barely having stretched off.
In that same period Sam Lousi charged down an Ali Price box kick. I was aware that was something he was known for. He did it about four times to Charlie Shiel the last time we visited Parc y Scarlets. Price wasn't looking and neither was he paying attention later in the game when he missed the ball shooting out from a scrum just inside our 22.
Needless costly penalties were conceded by senior players including Sam Skinner, Glen Young, Hamish Watson, and an obstruction on our own try line by Tom Dodd led straight to Scarlets' last try.
The Piardi part has two aspects. The first is we should be able to adapt to his foibles. I'll just highlight a couple of examples of those from the closing stages that probably cost us as a team.
On 63 minutes Edinburgh were attacking close to Scarlets' line and he called, "Advantage - don't play the nine", as a Scarlets player grabbed a hold of Price over the top of the ruck. The attack was disrupted and ended with a Scarlets lineout.
With seven minutes left he awarded Edinburgh a scrum penalty around the halfway line. Scarlets loosehead Alec Hepburn started jumping up and down, gesticulating and shouting at Piardi. Sanction? Nothing.
The good? Two bonus points is definitely a positive and it was encouraging in the wider sense that despite everything that was going against us that we kept fighting.
There was another strong showing from Lewis Wells before he was injured and the likes of Rob Carmichael, Tom Currie and especially Harri Morris all showed up well.
Ultimately if you mention a 10-hour bus trip and say it's not an excuse then, I'm sorry, that's exactly what it is. The two points may turn out to be valuable but it's like being happy you've got candles when the power is out.
After 10 games we have 24 points. At this stage last year we were on 34. Improvement?
Grant Young
Fan writer
The storm may have passed but Glasgow and Connacht dealt with all the seasons in the rescheduled game on Sunday afternoon.
Gale-force winds, sleet, snow and rain battered the players and left both teams looking like they would rather be anywhere other than Scotstoun.
It's often spoken of how depleted Glasgow are during these international windows, where squad depth and talent are really tested.
Add into the mix the amount of injuries Franco Smith is dealing with and it could cause a real headache. However, there is something about this squad. Ollie Smith played his first 80 but as 13 not at full-back and yet again Glasgow had three hookers in the 23.
The stiff wind on Sunday made it a real tricky game for place kicking and clearing territory in general. Connacht started brighter but Glasgow roared back and two scores from Sebastian Cancelliere paved the way for victory.
Player of the game Ben Afshar looked a veteran as he marshalled the Glasgow team throughout. He scored a marvellous try but, like George Horne and Jamie Dobie, he continually makes brilliant support runs and looks to be working hard on his kicking game too. A bright future awaits the youngster.
His game-time may be restricted at present but it won't be long before he is knocking at the door of both Smith and Gregor Townsend and earning that playing time.
Glasgow at this break in the season sit second in the URC and a home tie with Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup last 16 also awaits. A successful start to 2025.
As the start of the Six Nations edges even closer, there's plenty to talk about in the world of Scottish Rugby.
Got any burning questions to put to our rugby writers Tom English and Andy Burke? Send them in via this link, external and they will be answered on this page later in the week.
Image source, SNSDuncan Weir has praised his Glasgow Warriors teammates for their narrow URC victory over Connacht on Sunday in "horrible" conditions.
33-year-old Weir led out the team as captain for the first time in their 22-19 victory and insists that the Warriors learnt from their "hard loss" against Harlequins last weekend.
"I think after last week, it was a hard loss. We played well in certain areas of our game, but we missed some opportunities," said Weir.
"I think our endeavour to try and play good positive rugby was there.
"Even tonight, the conditions were horrible and cold, but we came into this game with the right mindset of playing the Glasgow way and we definitely did that in tonight's game.
"I'm just really proud of the boys' efforts.
"For guys that maybe don't get a lot of opportunities, to maybe go and front up, and win a really tight game against a quality opposition.
"It's huge for the club and it's huge for their morale, we will have some time off, and that time off will be a lovely big cheeser on our face which is always nice."
We asked for your views on Glasgow's narrow URC win against Connacht and Edinburgh's URC defeat by Scarlets.
Here's what some of you said:
Glasgow
Dave: Given the team Glasgow had out, they got a good result out of a difficult encounter. Connacht were really direct with their drives and asked a lot of the physicality of a young Glasgow team. Although the weather made for a scrappy match the 2nd try by Glasgow was a classic Glasgow try and great to see. No bonus point but a good win.
Anthony: A brilliant victory by Warriors in appalling weather conditions, The performance and win is a real vindication of Franco Smith's policy of building squad strength in depth. Delighted for Duncan Weir in captaining the side and Ben Ashfar for his man-of-the-match display. This result could be pivotal for Warriors at the business end of the season.
Ben: A game we so easily could have lost, you have to be happy with the four points and move on. Despite all of our injuries, we are looking good for a top-three seed at the very least. Our depth is being tested to the extreme, but so many youngsters continue to impress. Henco Venter is proving such an astute signing. Always available, and so consistent.
Edinburgh
Adam: Edinburgh did well to grind out a 4th try however yet again the frailty of their attacking game has been exposed. Rarely did they threaten with their back play. Ali Price was a British Lion, however, that was then and this is now, his delivery is agonisingly slow as was exposed when he was substituted with 15 minutes to play when play sped up.
Geoff: Careless penalties lost us the officials early and they kept piling in the decisions until the game was lost. When will Scottish sides learn their lessons and make decision making the key training focus it has lost us so many matches.
Andrew: Better discipline in the first half and we could have come away with the win. Four debutants/recent debutants and the way we fought back into the game after 10 hours on a coach gives reason to believe we're improving. Must win games coming up against teams below and around us in the league if we're to finish in the top eight.
George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyIndiscipline plagues Edinburgh again
It's been said before about this Edinburgh side, but their lack of discipline was at times on show again in Llanelli.
In the opening 25 minutes, penalty after penalty went Scarlets' way, which culminated in Paddy Harrison spending 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Sean Everitt's side conceded 15 penalties in total, far too many for a side with ambitions of at least a quarter-final spot. Yes, they were without several Scotland players before the Six Nations gets under way, but this is a trait that seemingly runs through the entire squad.
The match was ultimately decided by home fly-half Ioan Lloyd's goal kicking, with nine of his 15 points coming from penalties.
Slow starts prove costly
After 24 minutes of the first half, Edinburgh had conceded 13 unanswered points.
In the first 20 minutes of the second period, they shipped 14 unanswered points.
On both occasions they got themselves back in the contest, but it's difficult to win games of rugby at any level when you cede momentum so readily. They rallied in the final 10 minutes of the game, but came up short having fallen too far behind.
Everitt said post-match that the third quarter cost his team, and he was right, but given they had a chance to rest and make necessary tweaks, one has to question why? It cannot be a fitness issue, so is it one of mentality?
Anxious wait for injury diagnosis
Wingers Lewis Wells and Harry Paterson - who had only just returned from a long lay-off - both came off with knocks in Carmarthenshire, which prompted something of a reshuffle to an already depleted back line.
Ben Healy ended the match at full-back, with Wes Goosen and Matt Currie shifted onto the wings.
With Nathan Sweeney, Ross McCann, Mark Bennett and Emiliano Boffelli all already sidelined, and Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham away on Scotland duty, Everitt will be desperate for good news on Wells and Paterson before Edinburgh face Zebre on Valentine's Day.
Otherwise, he will have to select another higgledy-piggledy backs division against the Italian side.
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSJack Mann in action at the weekend
"Undervalued" Venter leads from the front
We have tried in these pages on occasion to shine a light on the outstanding contribution to the Glasgow Warriors cause of Henco Venter.
With the array of glittering attacking talent Glasgow possess, the big South African's crucial grunt work can often go unnoticed, but after another powerful display against Connacht, Franco Smith was keen to highlight just how important Venter is.
"He's very undervalued," Smith told BBC Scotland after the game.
"He's a quality person first and a quality player. I can't remember a game he didn't play well. He's been immense for us."
In a side featuring a number of inexperienced players, Venter led from the front and ensured Glasgow got over the line in a game that had the potential to get away from them.
Mann making his case for Scotland
Jack Mann could hardly contain his smile when we spoke to him on the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast last week about his first few days in the Scotland set-up.
His performances for Glasgow since returning from two years of injury hell forced Gregor Townsend to sit up and take notice.
The door was opened for Mann by an injury to Edinburgh's Ben Muncaster, and the way the Scotland casualty list is growing, you would not bet against Mann seeing some action in the Six Nations.
He was excellent once again against Connacht, giving his team crucial go-forward in a dogfight played out in dreadful weather conditions.
If his country needs him in the next few weeks, Mann looks ready.
Weir the wise old head guiding Warriors rookies
Duncan Weir has been involved in plenty of big moments throughout his career, but an ugly mid-season URC win against Connacht at a rain swept Scotstoun seemed to bring him as much satisfaction as just about any of them.
Leading his side as captain for the first time - having joined Warriors for his first spell at the club all the way back in 2010 – was perhaps part of it, but Weir seemed most pleased with how a team featuring several young, untested players came through a tricky challenge.
"This is the Glasgow I know", Weir told BBC Scotland after the game, highlighting that no matter who is filling a particular jersey, whether it's Zander Fagerson or Fin Richardson, the demands of the job remain the same.
Characters like Weir are invaluable around the club, especially in these periods when so much experience is unavailable due to the Six Nations.
At 33 years old and with most of his rugby behind him, you sense Weir is relishing every minute of guiding through the next crop of Warriors talent.
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSDuncan Weir kicked seven points for Glasgow against Connacht
Duncan Weir says Glasgow Warriors' strength in depth will be key if they are to repeat last season's United Rugby Championship title success.
A shadow Glasgow team, missing a host of internationals before the Six Nations, ground out victory over Connacht in appalling weather conditions at Scotstoun to consolidate second place in the table.
Weir, 33, captained Warriors for the first time and kicked seven points to help his side overcome their stuffy visitors 22-19.
"We showed our versatility in the squad last season," he told BBC Scotland.
"I think that kept us fresh at the right bit of the season. So, again, that result just gives Franco [Smith] confidence to make more changes.
"Maybe when the Six Nations boys come back and they're feeling a bit battered and bruised from that, then we can still make those changes and still come away with results.
"That's the Glasgow that I know. Back in the day, 15 years ago, 10 years ago, that's what we would have done.
"We would make changes at this period in the season and we would grow, we would come alive and the crop of the next generation came through and really took their chance and gave confidence for the coaches to select them. This was another great example."
