6N: Scotland v Ireland: Darcy Graham on delivering when it really matters

Yesterday at 05:00 PM

AFTER charging into a three tries to zero lead inside the opening half-hour, Scotland found themselves hauled back to all-square (19-19) within seven minutes of the start of the second-half of Saturday’s Six Nations opening weekend clash against Italy at Murrayfield. The Azzurri line-speed had spooked the out-of-sorts Finn Russell into coughing up an interception try to Ignacio Brex which had tied the scores, and the hosts were clearly rattled. Memories of Rome last year were flooding back. Italy’s tails were up – another upset win was within their grasp.

Gregor Townsend‘s team needed a hero. Somebody to produce a moment of inspiration which would decisively swing momentum back their way. For almost 15 minutes there wasn’t any takers, and then the ball was shipped out to Darcy Graham on the right wing. It had been a patchy afternoon for the Hawick man up until that point, with some lively moments punctuated by a couple of frustrating knock-ons. But in this instance, it was a case of: cometh the hour, cometh the man.

“Well, it was really the first time I’d got on ball, so it was a frustrating game for myself, but when we needed to come up with something I felt like I did, so I’m happy enough,” smiled the pint-sized winger with rocket boosters in his heels, as he recalled his cut back inside which left four Azzurri defenders flailing in his wake, before stepping on the gas and then sending Huw Jones over for the second of the centre’s three tries in the match with a perfectly timed and executed pass.

6N: Six takeaways from round one of the 2025 Six Nations

The Monday Bulletin (3rd February): AC/DC headed for Murrayfield and World Cup Sevens to be scrapped

6N: Scotland v Italy debrief: a win to savour but more evidence of progress required

That hat-trick took Jones’ tally in the Scotland jersey to 22, joint sixth in the all-time try-scoring table alongside Chris Paterson (who needed 55 more caps to reach that number), and seven behind Graham’s own haul of 29 tries. There has been much made in the press about the individual battle between Graham and fellow current winger Duhan van der Merwe (who is currently one ahead on 30 tries) to ultimately set the highest total, and head coach Townsend was keen to praise both those players after the game for their selflessness in being creators rather than finishers on this occasion.

“That’s obviously at the back of my mind right now,” stressed Graham, when asked about his dual with van der Merwe. “For myself, it’s a team first mentality. I’m not even thinking about that. I want to win games and I just need to play well. If I can put boys away, I’ll put them away. If I can score tries, I’ll score tries. For myself right now, my focus is winning games and just doing what I need to do for the team.

“I think for myself I came off that pitch and I’m not too pleased with how we’ve played,” he continued. “We got a huge amount of ball in the first half, a couple of dropped balls and that. I needed a wee bit of magic, I created it and we scored off it. Sometimes that’s the way games go and sometimes all you need is one bit of magic to get the team back on front foot.

“It did dry up, we started off really quick and that’s what we wanted. That first 20 minutes we were flying, but we always knew the Italians were coming. They’re so passionate, they’re in games to the 80th minute. They’re a bloody good team now. They’re under-20s are performing really well. They’ll put a big team away this year I reckon.

“But [from our perspective], it’s just individual errors that stopped us from cutting them out of the game. Discipline as well, we gave them 12 points first up off the tee, so that’s a killer. If we do that to Ireland next week, it’s going to be a tough day. Discipline needs to improve and then those wee tidy-ups as individuals in a week will be fine.

“Defensively, we’re pleased with that game. But again, there’s huge improvements for next week to come from us. So it’s exciting.”

Ireland, meanwhile, delivered notice that rumours of their demise had been greatly exaggerated by blowing away England in the second half of their round one tie in Dublin on Saturday, before a couple of late consolation tries added a misleading sheen to the final scoreline for the visitors. The men in green will head to Murrayfield this Sunday determined to manhandle their noisy neighbours right back into the box that Scotland are determined to burst their way clear from. It irritates the hell out of f0lk on the other side of the Irish Sea that Scotland keep having the temerity to claim that they believe they can win these clashes between two Celtic cousins whose once close affinity has turned curiously sour in recent years.

The Scots have been mindful of the need to sound respectful of Ireland’s achievements during the best part of the last two decades during the build-up to this game, but they quite rightly draw the line at completely writing off their own chances of causing an upset.

“Of course we are,” retorted Graham, when asked if he believes his team are getting closer to Ireland. “Obviously they’re an unbelievable team, they turn up … on their day … they’re very dangerous. Control is almost in our hands, not giving them easy penalties, easy ins into the game, so it’s down to us. That’s where they thrive, that’s where we need to keep them at bay, we can’t let them into the game. So it’s all on us.

“We’ve improved massively [as a team], I think the confidence is there, the belief is there, that’s a big thing, we actually believe we can actually win now. I think maybe two seasons ago we spoke about it, about winning, but probably didn’t really believe it, and I think now is the time we genuinely believe it. Again, as a team we’re not looking too far in front, we’re just taking one week at a time, one game at a time, and just getting things right that week, prep for that game, [because that] will set us in good stead.”

That one moment of magic from Graham on Saturday reinforced his credentials as a candidate to tour with the Lions this coming summer, despite the fact he made far more unforced errors than he would have liked. But that game will fade into insignificance as this tournament progresses, with his performance this weekend when he will be up against fellow tour hopefuls James Lowe and Mack Hansen being a far more significant barometer of his credentials.

“You need to turn up on these games, obviously I’ve been quite open that I want to go on the Lions tour,” said Graham with his usual candour. “This is obviously the Six Nations, it’s a huge step up, you need to put your hand up here. So yeah, the Ireland game is going to be massive, but I’m just thinking team first, one game at a time, that’s in the future, I’m not looking too far ahead.”

• You can book your Six Nations hospitality and VIP tickets with Seat Unique HERE, an Official Hospitality Partner of The Murrayfield Experience

The Monday Bulletin (3rd February): AC/DC headed for Murrayfield and World Cup Sevens to be scrapped

The post 6N: Scotland v Ireland: Darcy Graham on delivering when it really matters appeared first on Scottish Rugby News from The Offside Line.