Analysing Scotland’s autumn: winners and losers

Scotland’s report card looks pretty positive after the autumn:

Beat Argentina at home: Accomplished
Push a second-string New Zealand team close: Accomplished
Don’t be embarrassed by Tonga: Accomplished
Blood youngsters and show the world that Scotland are still a team to be reckoned with: Accomplished
Do more with the national team in a couple of months than your predecessors did in years: Accomplished

So with that in mind, which individuals proved themselves to be a key part of the national side’s new outlook, and who are in danger of being left behind?

RISING LIKE A KILT IN THE WIND

Jonny Gray

Anyone who didn’t know the younger Gray before this autumn will probably be sitting up and taking note round about now. The lock was a tackling machine during the three games he was involved in and he was a menace at opposition lineouts. This guy is a future Scotland captain and British and Irish Lion, no doubt about it.

Ross Ford

Like a phoenix from the flames, Ross has risen again – kind of. Anyone who watched him during the recent Six Nations would have felt a severe detest for the hooker (including this writer), but in these last few games he has played like the Lion he once was. His carrying and tackling have been superb, as has his throwing in. His hooking on the other hand….we’ll get there.

Blair Cowan

The Kilted Kiwi’s first few games for Scotland were inconspicuous to say the least, but under Vern Cotter the flanker has flourished. He popped up for a try against Tonga and his work in the loose has been nothing short of inspirational.

Greig Laidlaw

Another player who many thought should have hung up his Scotland shirt after the Six Nations. His performance against Argentina was the best for his country, his kicking off the tee has been little short of perfect, and he ran the forwards with the authority that many have craved from him for years. His move to Gloucester has done him wonders.

Finn Russell

Don’t sound the alarms just yet, but Scotland may just have found an international standard fly-half. The youngster is a superb attacking player, with great vision and awareness, and his tactical kicking is some of the best you will see. He is also not afraid to take the ball into contact if nothing is on and he can more than hold his own in defence.

FALLING LIKE THE TEMPERATURE IN THE HIGHLANDS ONCE THE SUN SETS

Mark Bennett

The amount of hype about the centre before the autumn was close to unbelievable but unfortunately, he was unable to deliver. He did close to nothing in an Argentina game that should have suited him, and he went off injured 10 minutes into the New Zealand match. He now has a hamstring injury and will be out for 12 weeks.

Alasdair Strokosch

Someone who is performing averagely in the French D2 league was never likely to shine in a Tier One international set up. Strokosch’s performances from the bench backed this up and made Kelly Brown’s absence look all the more baffling.

Scott Johnson

Vern Cotter’s achievements this autumn with basically the same team that Johnson had, shows just how terrible the Australian was when it came to coaching the Scots. Amusing in press conference he may have been; the right coach for Scotland he was not.

By Calum Gillon (@C_Gillon)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images