Scotland Six Nations Preview: Hot Take Edition
Yesterday at 02:00 AM
Following Skye’s look back at 2024 for all Six Nations, here’s a look at Scotland’s 2025 6 Nations fixtures complete with TV and referee information, kick of times and the thoughts of some of our podcast team on what we might be thinking after each match. Or as the world’s best rugby tournament is known round these parts: “Yet another ‘last’ chance for this generation of Scotland players to not underperform at a tournament”.
Scotland record at home against Italy
Jonny: Remember when they were a joke team? Ah well, a win’s a win.
Allan: Scrappy win
John: Sione who? That Stafford lad ain’t bad
Al: Toony hmmm…
No longer the testing ground for the second XV or the banker result it once was, Scotland may benefit from a fixture requiring steady concentration early on to get them prepared for the tougher propositions to come. Italy on the other hand will want to catch us napping (aka do a Godman), and will know it is entirely possible. Positioned as the opening fixture it would be prudent to get the first XV or close to it purring as quickly as possible but with a spate of recent injuries we don’t really know what that is any more.
Scotland record at home against Ireland
Jonny: That was the best chance we’ll ever get against them.
John: Sione would have won us that. That Stafford is pure crap.
Allan: Cautious optimism, likely misplaced
Al: Toony oot!
It seems massively unlikely that Scotland can do anything in this tournament in terms of the final table without it being a tournament where they finally beat Ireland. The men in green perhaps looked a little unsure of themselves in the autumn but will be supremely confident they can once again play the “Scots are talking themselves up” card and psych us out of it before the kick-off, regardless of who they pick at 10 these days. Worth noting they’ll be without Andy Farrell who is on Lions sabbatical and Simon Easterby is taking charge. Note to any Irish pundits watching – saying we have to beat Ireland is not the same as saying we will.
Scotland record away from home against England
Jonny: One day our luck will run out against this lot.
John: Can Duhan play 12? Where is Cameron Redpath?
Allan: This run's gonna end one day but hopefully not today
Al: Toony in!
They’ve renamed the stadium, but all hopes will be that Scotland continue to be England’s “they are so annoying why can’t we beat them” bogey team like Ireland are for us. The lack of an experienced boiler-room in the Scotland pack could count against us away from home where the crowd are sure to be in full voice, and expectant. In terms of tournament play and not just Calcutta Cup bragging rights this could turn into a must win and may depend on any injury returnees to bolster the pack.
Scotland record at home against Wales
Jonny: Remember when they weren’t a joke team?
John: My word Wales.. is that Matt Scott at 12? Gatland, please stay…
Allan: Bwahahahahahahaha – remember when Gats said they'd forgotten how to lose?
Al: Toony contract extension
How did Wales turn into the easy fixture? The easy answer is Warren Gatlandball 2.0, but while they’ve been very poor of late, there are enough signs to say that if given the opportunity to continue a lot of these young guys are going to be great in a few years. Just not now, okay? We need this one to try and top up the points difference, and hopefully not the dreaded “get our tournament back on track”.
Scotland record away from home against France
Jonny: Sacre bleu
John: Well this was fun.. would have taken third at start of tournament. At least two teams can actually play nice rugby.
Allan: Merde
Al: Toony oot, bottling shower of… etc
Grand Slam decider anyone? Even should the miraculous happen and we’ve got something to play for going into the final round, the decision to play this late at night will backfire on Scotland as it’ll be past Jamie Dobie’s bedtime. As always no-one knows which France will turn up, but one way or the other this match is still likely to be the coronation of someone. Probably Antoine Dupont.
For every “Finn Russell is on fire” there is “Sione’s out for the tournament”. Sure to be interesting times ahead and there were some squad updates this week following yet more injuries, see the main squad post for an updated Scotland squad.
Here’s a sample 23 for Italy based on who is left:
Scotland Potential XV: Kinghorn, Graham, Jones, Hutchinson, Van Der Merwe, Russell, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Fagerson, Johnson, Gilchrist, Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacement: Sutherland, Harrison, Rae, Sykes, Mann, Horne, Burke, Jordan.
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