A 12 months in the past to the day, Scotland rounded off a disappointing Six Nations with a dismal defeat in Dublin on the finish of a divisive week.

Issues look altogether totally different now. Sunnier. Extra optimistic. Italy took Scotland to a really darkish place within the closing minutes at Murrayfield on Saturday, however they survived and prospered.

They had been one defensive slip away from defeat, however held agency, broke out and scored a length-of-the-field strive that assured them third place within the Six Nations desk behind the world primary and two.

That is pretty much as good as Scotland may have realistically hoped for and doubtless a complete lot higher than most imagined when the championship started in early February.

It was an absorbing marketing campaign – two wins in a row initially for the primary time since 1996, a brand new midfield partnership that lit the place up, some tries that had been cosmic of their creation, a comeback in Paris that threatened to be one thing extraordinary – after which that fretful recreation on Saturday and an extended stare right into a rugby abyss.

In assessing Scotland’s season and what issues seems to be like now that the World Cup is starting to loom giant, there is a bit to get by means of, so let take it in small steps.

Participant of the championship

From Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu within the midfield, to Duhan van der Merwe exterior, to Finn Russell as magician, Blair Kinghorn as super-sub-cum-hat-trick-saviour, and Richie Grey because the totem of the second-row, there are selections.

Pierre Schoeman takes it, although. How typically do props determine on these lists? Schoeman warrants it, big-time. As a service, scrummager, defender and breakdown nuisance, he was immense.

Schoeman carried for 65m in opposition to the French (no ahead on both facet made that form of floor) and made one other 65m in opposition to Eire (solely Jack Dempsey and James Ryan topped his quantity). Solely Dempsey out-carried in opposition to Italy.

Schoeman made 13 tackles in opposition to Wales and 16 in opposition to England and he by no means performed greater than 66 minutes. When he went off in opposition to the Irish, issues began to go south. The bushy one had an enormous championship and has turn into totally invaluable.

Strive of the championship

We thought we would wait an age to see one other one pretty much as good as Van der Merwe’s first at Twickenham. Really, we solely needed to wait 50 minutes.

The indicators weren’t good within the remaining quarter. Scotland had kicked out on the total, then butchered a chance on the hour, then kicked out on the total once more on 73 minutes. They trailed 23-22 with 4 minutes to go – and located one thing magnificent.

They’d put in a large defensive shift to that time, so the vitality, accuracy, velocity and ambition of that successful strive was breathtaking. Attacking up the fitting, sweeping left, the end within the nook from Van der Merwe – every part about it was world class.

The redemption songs

Given we already knew how good Tuipulotu and Jones could be, can be it honest to name their wonderful partnership a shock? Most likely, sure, as a result of the expectation on the outset was that it will Tuipulotu and Chris Harris in Scotland’s midfield.

Townsend hit on one thing wondrous when he went down a extra attacking street. For each males, it was a redemption.

Tuipulotu had been one of many Edinburgh Six final season, the group who went ingesting after the Italy recreation. He did not even determine within the 23 in opposition to Eire on the ultimate day a 12 months in the past.

Jones’ comeback has been a delight. He’d been a cowed and anxious determine at Glasgow beneath Dave Rennie, then moved to Harlequins and located his mojo once more, solely to get injured earlier than final summer time’s tour to Argentina.

The way in which Jones has fought again and reminded everybody what an distinctive participant he’s has been one of many nice highlights.

The unluckiest man

There’s just one contender, a runaway winner. Luke Crosbie was unsung within the victory over England, however his defensive work was terrific and he began once more within the Wales recreation.

Two wins from two – and he was dropped. He did not even make one other match-day squad.

It was harsh on him due to all the boys who wore Scotland’s seven jersey within the championship (Crosbie, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson), Crosbie appeared the simplest in his efficiency within the Calcutta Cup. Hopefully he’ll be again.

Most painful second

The way in which Scotland fought again from 19-0 all the way down to 25-21 in Paris was arguably essentially the most spectacular hour of their total match. They fully dominated France for huge chunks of time. In their very own yard, the world quantity two appeared in deep, deep bother.

Led by a fairly sensible efficiency from Russell, Scotland had been scaring the life out of the French. With 5 minutes to go, the guests had been on the entrance foot, an attacking lineout to come back and a house crowd in panic mode.

No matter went flawed – an overthrow, a foul name, a late carry – they misplaced that lineout and that was the turning level. From an opportunity to win or, worse case, a shedding bonus level, they conceded late and left city with nothing.

The lineout is certainly one of Scotland’s greatest areas of labor now. When Richie Grey is there then all is pretty properly, When he isn’t, the factor is a weak point that one of the best sides will exploit. There is a ton of labor to be completed there.

Most infuriating second

When damage robbed Eire of each hookers and openside Josh van der Flier needed to throw into the lineout, that ought to have been Scotland’s cue to take a wrecking ball to Eire out of contact.

They could not do it. When the sport was within the melting pot, Van der Flier threw 5 conservative balls to the entrance of the lineout and Eire gained it each time. There was no Scottish disruptor, no Scottish voice noising up Van der Flier and attempting to place him off.

There was a complete lot of niceness. Niceness was by no means going to chop it in opposition to Peter O’Mahony. Scotland had an opportunity to mess with Irish heads they usually did not take it.

Russell in opposition to Wales

Within the second half, when his inspiration was badly wanted after a stodgy first 40, the fly-half was a pleasure. The way in which he ran the sport was magnificent.

Offloading out the facet door for a Kyle Steyn strive, a cross-kick to Steyn for one more. It was a masterclass of creative rugby.

His assists that day introduced his complete because the begin of the 2022 Take a look at season to 10, greater than another participant on the earth. How most of the 4 World Cup warm-up video games does Russell play in? As few as doable. The person is irreplaceable at 10.

World Cup on the horizon

It is past daunting, the group stage starting with a Take a look at in opposition to the world champion South Africans and ending with a Take a look at in opposition to the Grand Slam successful Irish.

Scotland must get off to a flyer. They’ve extra likelihood of catching the Springboks in recreation one than beating an Irish facet they have not crushed within the final eight makes an attempt.

South Africa have struggled of their opening recreation of the World Cup thrice in a row. They misplaced to New Zealand in 2019, to Japan in 2015 and struggled to beat Wales by some extent in 2011. That is Scotland’s essential hope. Catch the Boks early.

To try this, Townsend wants fortune to shine down on him. From at this time to the day he names his 33-man squad, he’ll pray for a clear invoice of well being on the damage entrance.

The lack of any certainly one of Jones, Tuipulotu, Russell, Schoeman, Zander Fagerson and Richie Grey can be a critical challenge within the bid to slay the enormous.

Absent pals

This was solely the second time in a decade that Scotland completed third they usually did it with out Darcy Graham, Rory Darge and Stuart McInally taking part in a solitary minute. Grant Gilchrist missed the final two video games.

There’s not big world-class depth however there’s hope and a sense that the World Cup cannot come shortly sufficient. Scotland shall be appreciable underdogs in France – how may they be something however given the corporate they will be protecting – however they’re bettering and, absolutely loaded, they will be harmful.

They’re going to take a breather now however earlier than they realize it they will again into it with the clock ticking all the way down to September 10 in Marseille that intoxicating assembly with the mighty Boks.