Scotland’s best group of players this century have just produced the country’s most impressive World Cup display in the professional era.  What’s more, the jersey design – with the possible exception of that tartan trim – was bettered by no-one.   But if ever proof was needed that an inferiority complex still tightly grips the Scottish mind, then look no further than minutes 76-80 of the 2015 quarter-final.  At least we could blame the referee.

However, Scottish rugby is being taken seriously again, and where before games were lost in excruciating defensive displays, we are now entertained as rarely before.

WINNERS

Greig Laidlaw

Ever since he stopped playing at 10 for the national side, there has been criticism of Laidlaw’s selection as scrum-half ahead of Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Henry Pyrgos, and Chris Cusiter.  The main issues: a lack of mobility, a slow service, and a kicking game used too frequently and often inaccurately.

His performances at the World Cup didn’t address all of these doubts, but it was manifestly clear that his strengths as a captain and nine more than outweigh them in knockout rugby.  Against Samoa and Australia, Laidlaw exploited the space either side of the ruck to open up half-gaps for his forwards.   His goal-kicking was nearly flawless throughout, and his ability to push the team around the pitch to engineer points scoring positions was equally impressive.  Never was his captaincy better displayed than when he shunned kickable penalties against Samoa, knowing that Scotland’s greatest weakness was kick-off receipt.  In his own way, it was colossal.

WP Nel

As the tournament progressed, the scrum became the bedrock of the Scottish game in a way it has rarely been against a team of any sort of proper standard.   This was largely down to Nel’s influence at tight-head prop, although Alasdair Dickinson deserves real credit for maturing into a scrummaging loosehead of quality where he was famed in his youth for his ball-carrying and mobility.  Nel also gives something extra in attack, where Scotland have struggled for dynamic carriers with a low centre of gravity.

David Denton

No-one would describe him as a linking eight, and you wouldn’t want him responsible for putting away a two on one off his left hand, but this doesn’t seem to matter when he carries so frequently and destructively.  The performance against Australia was astonishing both in terms of work-rate and results.  Denton, of all the Scottish players, did not deserve to lose.  In many respects, he is typical of a Scottish team which has acknowledged its weaknesses and strengths and has a built a style to accommodate both.

Genuine open-side flankers

If the call up of Blair Cowan was dictated by circumstance, his inclusion alongside John Hardie against Australia was very much strategy.  Initially an exercise in damage limitation against Hooper and Pocock, the latter’s omission through injury made the Scottish backrow a real point of strength. Scotland have got little out of their blindside selections under Cotter, indicative of a wider debate in the modern game about the role.  Rob Harley is a superb player, but somewhat of a bygone era.  Playing two sevens provided mobility and breakdown expertise.  It is a strategy that deserves to be persevered with, particularly when Hamish Watson looks such an outstanding prospect at Edinburgh.

Alex Dunbar

Dunbar’s contribution was sorely missed as assorted Americans, Samoans, South Africans and Australians breezed through the Scottish backline at will.  It’s not that Mark Bennett and Matt Scott are bad defenders individually, but there is a certain security that comes with Dunbar’s presence.  A genuine crash ball outlet was also missed through the tournament.

LOSERS

Ryan Wilson

Wilson made a late and ultimately successful bid for a place in the squad by virtue of his exceptional performances in Glasgow’s title run-in.  It seems somewhat harsh to pick him out when the whole squad emerged with real credit.  However, he has lacked impact at international level, particularly against the kind of back-rowers fielded by Samoa and South Africa.  Cotter has always prized the ‘point of difference’, and at this level Wilson was not able to offer one.

All coaches and players involved in line-out defence and kick-offs

Kick-off receipt and maul defence ruined Scotland in the Six Nations.  You would think that 12 weeks with the best players in the country was sufficient to fix this once and for all.  How galling, then, that Scotland should be denied a semi-final place because of the very same issues.

At times, the Scottish players appear completely nonplussed when faced by even the most rank average restart.  The result of this is that every step forward towards a dominant position in a game is followed by a step back.  Samoa were gifted a rich stream of possession; Australia easily found a way back into the game.  Culminating in a line-out five metres out, the Russell-Hogg-Seymour debacle against the latter would have disgraced any amateur team in the country.

The maul defence was equally inept.  Some thought the problems were solved after Scotland kept out a bedraggled Italian side at Murrayfield, a myth painfully exploded as Japan, not famed for their driving game, eased through at the first attempt.  There was inevitability whenever South Africa and Australia got within reach.

Psychological resilience

Not so much going down as already plumbing the depths.  Under Cotter, Scotland are a truly likeable side capable of great rugby, and competitive, if not dominant, against anyone.  But the close games that have been lost – New Zealand, Wales, Italy at home, France (twice), Australia and England away – were the result of failure to execute key skills at crucial times, and to take the right decisions under pressure.  This is an issue which, as seen by the football team’s capitulation against Poland, is not confined solely to the rugby team.

By Charlie King (@CharlescpKing)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images