Scottish Rugby

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Another year, another Six Nations opportunity slips away.

Although Scotland do have the chance to finish with a flourish and make it three wins from five this weekend, the chance of doing so against against France in Paris looks unlikely.

Amid an underwhelming championship for Scotland, there are some that think it's time for Gregor Townsend to move on. Former fly-half Craig Chalmers isn't one of them.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Chalmers said of his former team-mate: "I get that one or two are a bit disgruntled with Gregor but I think he's done a good job in the last few years.

"Some people should be careful what they wish for because I don't think there's anybody out there that could do a much better job with the set of players we have at the moment.

"There's a lot of talk about Franco Smith or maybe Michael Cheika, someone who could come in and do a job.

"Gregor has got until 2026 on his contract. Does he go until the World Cup the year after? It's not for me to say, but we've watched some great rugby over the last few years - especially the last two or three."

However, while Chalmers defended his fellow Gala native, he feels the time has come for Scotland's current crop of players to live up to their 'golden generation' tag.

"This squad has maybe two or three years left of opportunities for doing something special," he added.

"We don't have masses of youngsters coming through unfortunately. If Scotland are going to have any success, it's probably going to be in the next three or four years.

"We'd love to see this team actually win something tangible. Can Gregor do it? Maybe. But we need to have that bit more aggression up front. It's not a pack of forwards that scares too many."

That forward pack is where the France game could be win or lost. Although Scotland's backline has come in for plenty of plaudits given the attacking brand of rugby they play, the pack has come under pressure.

"We can't make our players bigger and stronger and more physical in a week," Chalmers said. "The depth they've got compared to us is massive.

"It's a massive task, absolutely massive, but if our backs can get the ball and we can run this big French pack around, keep the ball and look after it... we go in hope that we can do something."

As Scotland put last week's victory behind them and prepare for a huge test in Paris, have you 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.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tom Jordan says it was a tough decision to leave Glasgow Warriors at the end of the season, but the opportunity to join Bristol Bears was too good to turn down.

Jordan was instrumental in Warriors URC title victory last season and has excelled in the Test arena since making his Scotland debut against Fiji last autumn.

It's a bitter blow for Glasgow to lose the New Zealand-born utility back, but Jordan explained why he is making the switch to the English Premiership this summer.

"I've been here for over five years, so I think it's a good opportunity," Jordan said after scoring two tries in Scotland's Six Nations victory over Wales.

"I think it's a lot about growing as a person on and off the field, and it's an opportunity that I want to take.

"If I can grab that with both hands, it's going to make me a better player and a better person for it, I'd hope. So, yeah.

"It's always going to be a tough decision for anyone, but it's sport at the end of the day and I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland's split personality

How do you begin to explain this Scotland team? A team that can look so slick, so imaginative, so dominant for 50 minutes against Wales, but in the last half-hour turns into a pumpkin and looks tired, error strewn and there for the taking.

Let's be clear, had Taulupe Faletau's try with four minutes remaining been allowed to stand – it was correctly ruled out – Scotland were absolutely there for the taking. Having led by 27 points at one stage, that is extraordinary.

Ebbs and flows in matches are what make Test rugby so compelling, but rarely does the pendulum swing so dramatically as they do when Scotland are involved.

Gregor Townsend's side play in bursts – periods of wondrous rugby, and spells of ruinous sloppiness.

On any given day one can outweigh the other, but it all feels like a bit of a lottery as to which side of Scotland's split personality will come to the fore.

Russell's perfect response to doubters

As always with Scotland's most high-profile player, much of the post-game analysis after the defeat to England at Twickenham fell on Finn Russell.

Much of the coverage was unfair, his three missed kicks overshadowing what was otherwise a very good performance from the Bath fly-half.

Against Wales, Russell was even better. He addressed those goalkicking concerns with a perfect display from the tee. The variety and timing of his passes – most notably to set up Darcy Graham's try – was sublime and his connection with Tom Jordan offered too many options in attack for Wales to handle.

Scotland lost direction when Russell left the pitch in the second half, but for the time he was on he offered a timely reminder, particularly to those critics questioning his Lions credentials, just what a class act he is.

Kinghorn continues to shine

Blair Kinghorn produced one of his best Scotland performances against Wales. The full-back scored two tries and was a constant threat with ball in hand.

Kinghorn has long been one of Scotland's most important attacking weapons, but since moving to Toulouse he has elevated his game to another level.

His understanding of where and when to come into the line has improved significantly, and with Russell, Jordan and Kinghorn all in the backline, Scotland are never short of a first receiver.

The finish for his first try showed the confidence Kinghorn is playing with. Many now see him as a strong contender for the Lions squad, with some backing him to edge out Ireland's Hugo Keenan for the starting 15 jersey for the Test series against Australia.

A strong showing in Paris next weekend would certainly help that case.

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Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie admitted the win over Wales was a "funny one" after they threatened to blow a 27-point lead.

The visitors to Murrayfield scored with the final play of the game to secure two bonus points and make it a one-score game with the clock dead.

"It's a funny one, especially when the opposition finish with a try - you feel a bit disappointed," Ritchie admitted.

"Six Nations wins are hard to come by so we're pleased with that but there's lots of improvements for us in our game."

Scotland were 35-8 up on the scoreboard after a dominating performance but, similar to last season, allowed Wales hope with a few late scores.

"For 50 minutes, we were very much in control. The last 30 was a bit loose and they had everything to play for. They put us under a bit of pressure.

"There's moments in there where our ill discipline is letting them into the game. Wales are looking to play a lot more rugby and they're able to cut teams apart. That's where they put us under pressure today."

Scotland fans, we asked for your views on Scotland's narrow Six Nations victory over Wales.

Here's what some of you said:

Malcolm: How long do Scotland supporters have to put up with Gregor Townsend getting Scotland "nearly there"? we need a coach who can instil a ruthless streak like Glasgow had in the URC.

Euan: A win is a win but the game management was atrocious in the second half. A lack of respect was shown with the timing of the changes, and taking Finn Russell off when he was bossing the game was ludicrous. There was little to no attacking shape and a serious lack of imagination trying to pick and go endlessly towards the end. Standards need to be higher.

Anon: Having a front five who walk around the pitch in internationals is not acceptable. With competition high in the back row, we should dump the second row strollers and bring in the more dynamic scavenging back row players.

Ali: It's the bench. Won't come as a surprise really. Even taking into account the players missing, none of them are front row. And that is where the problem is. Needs to be 6/2 split next week. What France did to Ireland yesterday is exactly what Ireland do to Scotland so I am really concerned about the last 30 minutes next week. Could be a long old day.

David: We have found new ways to keep the opposition in the game, butchering clear changes, poor discipline or just "switching off". Against the better teams we lose. This has to come down to the coaching. We have gone from being a team that was hard to beat under Vern Cotter to one that beats itself under Townsend. He needs to go.

Richard: Scotland were superb for the first 50 minutes. A different league to Wales and at 35-8 up, cruising to victory. Unfortunately, with the game already won, they went to sleep somewhat in the last 30 minutes and allowed Wales some consolation tries. The result was never in doubt. Overall well done Scotland.

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Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe believes Scotland "weren't good enough" in their ultimately narrow win over Wales at Murrayfield.

Scotland were 27 points ahead at the hour mark before the visitors brought it back to a one-score game in the dying seconds.

"We played very well in the first half and we spoke about coming out and playing even better," Van der Merwe told the BBC.

"We made a lot of mistakes in that second half, Wales punished in the set piece. We couldn't win our line-outs, lost a few scrums.

"Wales played very well that last 40 minutes, but a lot of that stuff is on us and unfortunately we weren't good enough in the second half."

Scotland now head to Paris for the final weekend, with France looking to seal the Six Nations title with a win.

"It'll be a tough week for us," Van der Merwe added. "It's easy to go over there [to Paris] and say we have nothing to play for, but we're going to have to be better than we were today.

"They have a lot to play for and we're going to go over there to try and beat them on their home pitch."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Darcy Graham says Scotland's victory over Wales felt like a defeat after the home side almost squandered a 27-point lead.

The Scots raced into a 35-8 lead early in the second half after a scintillating attacking display that saw them run in five tries.

However, Wales came back strongly to give Scotland a scare before ultimately going down 35-29.

"It feels like we've lost that game," said Graham, who scored Scotland's third try on his return to the team after missing the defeat to England with concussion.

"The boys are a bit flat in the changing room and I think that's just where we are as a team. We should have put them away but we could have scored another four or five tries out there. So that's the frustrating part.

"It's not one big problem. It's just loads of little individual things. It's just about being squeaky clean in all aspects of the game.

"But we've got a lot more in us and just fire into next week - a big one over in France."

Scotland round off their campaign in Paris next weekend against a France side now in pole position to win the championship after a dominant victory over Ireland in Dublin.

Graham says the Scots will have to maintain the level of performance shown in the first 50 minutes against Wales for the entire match if they are to stand a chance against Les Bleus.

"There's no point in just doing it for the 40 minutes, 50 minutes like we've done today," said the Edinburgh winger. "It's a full 80 minutes performance.

"I think the most disappointing thing is that we've not had that yet in the full championship - the ruthlessness. We need to go over there and be ruthless.

"We need to play 80 minutes and back ourselves. It's a hard place to go. The French are unbelievable. But we need to be more ruthless for 80 minutes."

Five-try Scotland overcame a hugely spirited Wales in a frenetic Six Nations contest at Murrayfield, condemning the visitors to a 16th defeat in a row.

The Scots looked at ease for large parts of the game, only for Wales to threaten a jaw-dropping comeback late on and ensure they at least left with some reward.

In the last 18 minutes, the visitors scored three unanswered tries - all converted - to turn a cakewalk into a struggle for the Scots, whose edge blunted incredibly in the second half.

The big comeback never materialised, though, and Scotland won a third Six Nations game in a row against Wales for the first time since 1991.

What did you make of that, Scotland fans? Where was the game won by the hosts?

Who impressed you? And were you worried in the second-half?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

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After Scotland's win over Wales became a slightly nervier affair than anticipated, the BBC pundits had their say on the second win of the Six Nations campaign.

John Barclay: "Wales were exceptional last week, they were a little bit passive and deep in the first half. In the second half they had nothing to lose and they just attacked, attacked, attacked.

"Scotland left a few tries out there, but Wales were always going to have a spell. Scotland didn't expect it to be so tight at the end."

"Finn Russell got the team moving superbly well and the key to it was that he got lots of ball. In the second half, the scrum and the line-out didn't function and they were living off scraps.

"His kicking game, after missing those kicks last week, was superb. His time on the ball, his distribution made space everywhere. He was superb today.

"There's been a few questions about his form, and he needed a big performance with a view to the Lions tour coming up in the summer."

Jonathan Davies: "Scotland lost their shape when Finn Russell went off and Wales hung on in there and showed great character.

"Russell played exceptionally well today, he had a hand in most of the good things and the tries. His kicking was accurate.

"Wales couldn't put any pressure on him. Scotland were so dominant in the first half, he was in an armchair ride. It just shows what he can do.

"The Lions will have a big pack in front of him, so he's put himself in [the box seat]."

Johnnie Beattie: "Wales did extremely well to come back into the game but there has always been questions over the depth of the pool talent we [Scotland] have.

"When Zander Fagerson and Finn Russell come off, there are changes and we're not as strong. We lacked a little in that last 20 minutes, but you have to compliment Wales on that final third.

"They were much better in their approach, carried the ball and themselves, and carried the game back to Scotland. There was jeopardy towards the end of the game, so it was a much better watch than the first hour."

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend told the BBC: "Very pleased with the start of the game and how we continued throughout the first half. We did talk at half-time about building on that lead.

"Sometimes it's difficult. The opposition, who are a quality team, can get things right. They got more ball in the second half. Sometimes changes from the bench aren't smooth. We're disappointed with not scoring when we had a couple of chances in the last five minutes, and conceding those tries.

"We've got to make sure we don't give them [France] momentum, any easy opportunities to get on the ball. They're so dangerous off counter attack or if you make an error, they usually score on the back of it. They're very strong in the forwards with their pick-and-go game and set piece.

"They've been outstanding in every game so far in the Six Nations and could have scored a few more at Twickenham. It's our biggest challenge.

"With the learnings we've had this year and how we played to start that game, we can really give it a crack next week."

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Edinburgh's Celtic Challenge campaign ended with a chastening 102-0 defeat by Irish side Wolfhounds, who have defended their title following the enormous win.

Edinburgh - who came second in last season's competition - finish with two wins from their 10 matches.

Wolfhounds, meanwhile, won nine of their 10 games on their way to back-to-back tournament crowns.