Scotland Must Make Most Of Stars Competing At The Top
With Blair Kinghorn winning the European Champions Cup and Finn Russell helping Bath to the Premiership Grand Final, Scottish players are now competing in some of the biggest games club rugby has to offer.
The key for Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is now trying to turn that individual club success to the national side, in what is a ruthlessly competitive Six Nations.
Kinghorn Rewarded For Brave Decision
With Edinburgh the only side he’d played for in his professional career, it was a big call for Kinghorn to leave his hometown for Toulouse. Scotland, who are 9/1 in the online betting to win the 2025 Six Nations, have been blessed with some outstanding full-backs over the decades with the likes of Andy Irvine, Gavin Hastings and Stuart Hogg all shining in the position. While having individual talents in that No.15 jersey, sports betting guides have long had the Scots as outsiders for the Six Nations title, while Ireland are the 5/4 favourites going into next year. Kinghorn is the latest star full-back off the Scottish production line and 2024 is a year he will remember fondly. Of course the lure of a big-money move to the south of France will have been great but Kinghorn admitted it was tough to leave his settled surroundings in Edinburgh. However, it has proven to be a great decision, with Kinghorn playing in a Champions Cup final win over Leinster this season. It has been a season that has established Kinghorn as one of the best full-backs in the game and means he will certainly be in the mix for the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2025.
Russell Works Wonders At Bath
From a side that were struggling at the wrong end of the Premiership table last season, Russell has had a remarkable impact during his short time at The Recreation Ground. The former Glasgow Warriors and Racing 92 playmaker has brought new life to the Bath attack and his efforts this season saw the club make a long-awaited return to the Premiership Grand Final. One man does not make a rugby team but it’s undeniable the influence the fly-half has had in West Country. Rugby fans north of the border are fully aware of Russell’s abilities and the player has matured in his role with the Scottish national side. Used by Townsend as a co-captain in the 2024 Six Nations, Russell is now one of the key senior figures in a side that are desperately looking to land a maiden Six Nations crown. The Scots again pulled off big wins against Wales and England this year but the consistency that they have been seeking was lacking. Townsend will lead his country into the 2025 competition and will be pleased with what individuals like Kinghorn and Russell have achieved this season.
Townsend, an individual talent in his own right as a player, will know it takes more than two or three stars to make a successful side. However, it certainly can’t hurt having Scottish players featuring in the biggest club games and the hope will be that Scotland can have their own title deciders in the near future.
