After ending the famine in his first Calcutta Cup match as Scotland coach, Gregor Townsend has turned his attention to curing his side’s travel sickness. If buoyant Scotland can clinch a first win in Ireland since 2010 on 10 March they will be catapulted firmly into contention for the title – but to do so Townsend is aware his side must start reproducing their Murrayfield magic on the road.
Indeed, Scotland have won only six matches away from home since the start of the Six Nations in 2000 and four of those have come against Italy. It is a problem dating back to when Townsend was a player and one demonstrated by Scotland’s emphatic defeat at the hands of Wales in their opening fixture of this year’s competition – a match that came with lofty expectations after an autumn full of optimism.
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That optimism has returned in spades after a first win over England in a decade, and the stylish manner in which it was achieved, but Ireland are now the only side to win all three of their matches this year and Scotland have triumphed there only once in the Six Nations.
“There is a twin challenge – we have to look at Ireland and what we need to do to beat them, and get our game in place but also do much better away from home,” Townsend said. “It has been an issue for Scotland since the Six Nations began and we’ve got to make sure that we play close to our potential.
“If that means we win the game then brilliant but if it means we just put in a very improved performance from the likes of Cardiff and Twickenham then that’s a big step forward. For the development of where we are now, both on the mental side and the belief it creates, [this win is] really important.”
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That defeat by Wales was not the first time Scotland set off on their travels looking to play with the swagger they display at Murrayfield but ended up with their tails between their legs – their previous away trip in the competition was a 61-21 loss at Twickenham.
Townsend highlighted the parochial nature of the Six Nations as a reason why his side have struggled on the road and Scotland are not alone, considering Ireland’s last-gasp win in France is the only away win of the tournament so far – if not including Rome.
“You guys know our record in the Six Nations, it is tough to play away from home. England obviously found that out here,” he added. “But we have to make sure that we’ve got our focus right and we’re ready for what we’re facing in Dublin, and we’re able to play accurate rugby. We didn’t do that two or three weeks ago in Cardiff.”