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BBC News
08-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Darge hopes Hoy presence can inspire Scotland
Guinness Six Nations: Scotland v IrelandWhen: Sunday, 9 February Where: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh Kick-off: 15:00 Watch on BBC One, iPlayer & BBC Sport website, listen on BBC Sounds Co-captain Rory Darge hopes the presence of Sir Chris Hoy can inspire the Scotland team when they take on Ireland in the Six Nations on legend Hoy announced in October that he has terminal cancer, and spoke this week about how his drive to raise awareness of the disease has "given me a purpose".The six-time Olympic gold medallist will deliver the match ball at Murrayfield on Sunday."It will be really special," Darge said. "He's a massive inspiration for his achievements in cycling, but also what he's going through personally is really inspiring too."I'm sure the Murrayfield crowd will get behind that and make it an even more special moment."That energy will hopefully be something that we can feed off as players and put into the performance." Scotland are looking to halt a dismal run of 10 straight defeats against 24-year-old Darge reiterated the message all week from the Scotland camp by saying their motivation is not ending that losing streak but rather going two from two in the Six Glasgow Warriors back-row's form for club and country - including an outstanding display against Italy last weekend - has propelled him into the conversation for Lions selection for the summer tour to is competing with is a host of quality openside flankers to catch the eye of Lions head coach Andy Farrell, including Sunday's opposite number, Josh van der Flier."He's world class," Darge said of the Irishman. "What makes him such a good player is just consistently doing his role to really, really high standards. "Some things that you might not see as much on the TV and then you watch the game back and you realise what an impact he's had in the game."But the whole back row are going to bring a massive amount of quality around the breakdown. We have a massive challenge to get parity there and give ourselves the best chance."
BBC News
08-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
What Scotland must do to end misery against Ireland
Guinness Six Nations: Scotland v IrelandWhen: Sunday, 9 February Where: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh Kick-off: 15:00 Watch on BBC One, iPlayer & BBC Sport website, listen on BBC Sounds Scotland coach Gregor Townsend was asked after his side's opening-weekend victory against Italy how he hoped to beat Six Nations champions Ireland eight days later at Murrayfield. "By scoring more points than them," he brevity was understandable. Having lost this fixture 10 times in a row, a proper analysis of the things Scotland must - and must not do - against their bogey team requires more than one answer shortly after the end of a different how can Scotland end their miserable recent record against Ireland? What does the grim history tell us about how they can get it done? Gift no presents In Dublin last year, Ireland got off to a shaky start. In the opening minutes they gave away a penalty, a free-kick, got charged down and turned over. Finn Russell made it 3-0. An encouraging Scotland messed up. They had a lineout close to their own line and threw it to Dan Sheehan, who went over. That game was a proper physical battle, with a four-point gap at the end. Scotland gave Ireland a free seven to Sheehan.'Cheap points' is a term used by successive Scotland captains against Ireland. Over the 10 defeats, this kind of wounding error is a theme. In 2022, while trailing 14-5, Stuart Hogg got greedy when going for the corner while Sam Johnson was free inside. Hugo Keenan put him into touch. A certain try was piece-de-resistance of calamities came in 2020, when Hogg dropped the ball going over the Ireland line in Dublin. That was in the 50th minute. A converted try would have brought the score level at 13-13. And Scotland would have had momentum. Tony Ward, the former Ireland fly-half working for RTE, said the Scots were the better team that 2019 Scotland started quickly at Murrayfield only to concede via a cock-up between Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland. The year before that, Peter Horne gave away an easy seven points early in Dublin when his pass was intercepted. Scotland butchered multiple chances that day, every error proving grist to Ireland's team makes mistakes but Scotland's mistakes in this fixture tend to be absolute whoppers. That has to stop. Stay in the fight Scotland have had a tendency to be blown away in short order, shipping a lot of points without reply. At the 2023 World Cup they were 36-0 down within an hour. Lights the 2023 Six Nations they were leading 7-3 after 17 minutes before conceding 19 unanswered points. In 2022 they were 14-0 down inside half an hour. In the Nations Cup in 2020 they conceded 19 unanswered points in 12 the 2019 World Cup they trailed 19-3 before the half hour. In 2018 Ireland led 21-3 after 46 Ireland big leads is ruinous to your health. The biggest points advantage Scotland have had in any game in the past 10 was six. Building some scoreboard pressure might be an idea for Sunday. Beware third-quarter dip This isn't exclusive to Scotland's games against Ireland, but it's certainly been a feature of the third quarter in the World Cup in 2023, Ireland prevailed 10-0. The year before it was 14-0, the year before that 7-0. It was 10-5 Ireland in 2021, 14-7 Ireland in 2020, 7-0 Ireland at the 2019 World Cup and 7-0 Ireland in the 2019 Six Nations. This goes back to staying in the fight, which brings us to the next point. Aggression for 80 minutes Scotland's aggression and intensity was top notch in Dublin a year ago, but most of their physicality was reserved for staying alive - Zander Fagerson, Andy Onyeama-Christie and Cameron Redpath made three try-saving tackles - rather than pounding on Ireland's of sustained aggression has been a key part of why Scotland are on this hideous run against had the power of a wet paper bag in their pummelling at the World Cup in 2023. Their lack of edge was mortifying. Time and again in these games we have seen Ireland slowly ratcheting up the intensity and Scotland's level slowly dropping signs are encouraging. Scotland lived with the Springboks for long periods of their autumn contest and were on top of them physically until the 'Bomb Squad' O'Mahony talks about rugby being "borderline warfare". For 80 minutes on Sunday - not 40 or 50 - that's how it will have to be. Be clinical There are so many Scottish tales of woe against Ireland in is a gifted and try-laden Scottish backline. The back three of Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe have 63 Test tries between them and Huw Jones has another 22. With Russell directing things, it's a lethal force. Except, for the most part, against defence has been on top more often than not. Add in Scotland's profligacy - and self-harming lack of accuracy at times - then you have Scotland's points average at 11.5 across the 10 defeats. Nowhere good enough. Ireland's average is dangermen must wreak havoc. On-field leadership Ireland had a tough time against England last Saturday. Their breakdown was in bother in the face of a furious 40 minutes from the visitors and their error count was high. But they fixed that is one of Ireland's greatest strengths - they have the nous to think their way through bad is a day for leaders who can steer Scotland through choppy waters. All of Scotland's go-to men have to step up, particularly when things are at their most else? They need to attack Ireland's lineout, which was a worry for them coming into this championship. England, bizarrely, never really went after need to get Ireland trying to play catch-up. Putting them under pressure is paramount. And they need a break or two. Soft points for rather than against. Some big calls going their way. A crowd engaged and raucous from the of that and the jinx might end. Might.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Jordan starts as Scotland make three changes for Ireland
Guinness Six Nations: Scotland v IrelandWhen: Sunday, 9 February Where: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh Kick-off: 15:00 Watch on BBC One, iPlayer & BBC Sport website, listen on BBC Sounds Tom Jordan makes his first Six Nations start as Scotland make three changes for Sunday's visit of Sutherland comes in at loosehead prop and Jack Dempsey is at number eight, while Jordan is chosen at inside Schoeman, Jamie Ritchie and Stafford McDowell drop to the bench following last weekend's opening win over Fagerson switches to the blindside flank to accommodate Dempsey's Skinner is among the replacements, having been added to the squad this week, and Jamie Dobie is preferred to George Horne as back-up to scrum-half Ben have lost the past 10 meetings with Ireland, with just one victory in to follow. Scotland team to face Ireland Scotland: B Kinghorn, D Graham, H Jones, T Jordan, D Van der Merwe, F Russell, B White; R Sutherland, D Cherry, Z Fagerson, J Gray, G Gilchrist, M Fagerson J Ritchie R Darge, J E Ashman, P Schoeman, W Hurd, S SKinner, G Brown, J Ritchie, J Dobie, S McDowall.
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'He's just a beast' - How Scotland's Darge became a Lions contender
Guinness Six Nations: Scotland v IrelandWhen: Sunday 9 February Where: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh Kick-off: 15:00 Watch on BBC One, iPlayer & BBC Sport website, listen on BBC Sounds Huw Jones' hat-trick of tries was always going to secure the player of the match award in Scotland's opening Six Nations victory over Italy, but many believe the game's outstanding performer was Rory Scotland co-captain delivered an all-action display in attack and defence and a look at the post-match stats only confirmed what was clear to the naked 24, was top of the Scotland rankings for tackles made, dominant tackles and turnovers won, second for offloads and third for post-contact metres hit the most rucks overall and had the most cleanouts as Glasgow Warriors flanker also got his team up and running with the opening try and his display has brought the spotlight onto a player whose consistent excellence can, at times, go how good is Darge? What makes him so effective? And is he a genuine contender for the Lions tour to Australia this summer? 'You could tell straight away he was special' Darge has long been tipped to be star, excelling as a national age grade captain and catching the eye of the Scotland management from an early age."I first saw him during the Six Nations in 2020, he came in as an apprentice to train with the national team," said Brown, a former team-mate of Darge's at Glasgow."He was pretty young at that point and defence coach Steve Tandy came over to me and just said, 'Have a look at this kid'. You could tell straightaway he was pretty special."Darge struggled for game time at Edinburgh under Richard Cockerill at the start of his professional career, but his rise since joining Glasgow in 2021 has been in a side struggling under then head coach Danny Wilson, the young flanker was a standout. Since the arrival of Franco Smith in 2022, Darge has received his first Test call-up in the 2022 Six Nations. By the time the 2023 Rugby World Cup rolled around, he had established himself in the Scotland back the 2024 Six Nations, Darge was named co-captain of his country alongside Finn Russell, aged only 23. 'Contesting the breakdown is an art' The headline writers are usually drawn to the chief creative forces in an international side; the likes of Antoine Dupont, Finn Russell and Marcus coaches and players, past and present, to name the most influential member of their team, however, and many will point to the openside number seven is the player more than any other tasked with disrupting the flow of the opposition, to compete at the breakdown to slow down and even stop your opponent's most important weapon – quick ball."Darge, like every top class openside, you think of you think of Sam Warburton, you think of Richie McCaw, and these are obviously legends of our game, but they have a real point of difference," said Beattie, who played 38 times for Scotland."I know now the game is more evolved than it has ever been, and more and more people are capable of jackaling, competing and contesting at breakdowns, but there's still an absolute art to timing, to your body position, your height, your flexibility, the positions you can get in."There are some people that are special in that area, and Darge is one that's special." 'Darge looks like a Lions player' After breaking an ankle against Cardiff playing for Glasgow in September 2022, Darge used his rehabilitation to bulk up extra power has taken his game to new heights and, after his starring role in Scotland's victory over Italy, Darge is firmly in the conversation for a coveted back-row berth for the Lions."He's an athlete, that guy," said former Wales and Lions captain Warburton."He got injured and it probably could be a bit of a blessing because it's just given him an extra few kilograms of body weight."It doesn't sound much but in contact that helps you dominate massively at an international level."Darge has bulked up that little bit and he looks like a Lions player."Lions head coach Andy Farrell is hardly short on quality back-row options and Darge will need some more big performances in this Six Nations to advance his case, starting against Ireland on Sunday."There's a bucket load of competition there," said Brown. "You've got Wales' Jack Morgan, you've got obviously the Currie brothers for England, Ireland's Josh van der Flier."Darge is so good, at six or seven. He is good at set-piece. He is just a beast."I think he's someone that you put into a Lions environment, then you'll actually just see how good he is because every single time he's been asked to go and step up to a new challenge, he's done it."He would be in my Lions squad."
