Six Nations 2024: How do Scotland step up to become a 'champion team'?

After another frustrating Six Nations campaign of 'what ifs' for Scotland, we are left to sift through the rubble of where things went awry.

A first win in Cardiff for 22 years was followed by a controversial defeat at home to France, before a Duhan van der Merwe masterclass downed England.

However, a shock defeat in Rome, in a game Scotland were cruising, quashed any hopes of a first championship since 1999, and Ireland eventually broke down a stubborn defensive rearguard in Dublin to inflict a third defeat from five.

Even in the win over Wales, there were signs of the vulnerabilities that would plague Scotland throughout the tournament. The Scots raced into a 27-0 lead, but had to cling on at the end for a one-point triumph. Once penalties and points started to flow Wales' way, Scotland looked powerless to stop that momentum.

On paper, they appear to have regressed. Fewer wins than 2023, fewer points scored, fewer tries scored, more tries conceded and more points conceded.

The most alarming stat is the net penalty count. Scotland conceded 30 more penalties than they won across the five games, which is not conducive to winning at any level.

When things go against this Scotland side, they don't rally, they crumble. Errors tend to be compounded with more errors.

Former captain John Barclay believes it is a mindset issue holding Scotland back. "I think there's a mental frailty to Scotland at the moment," he told the Rugby Union Daily podcast.

"They started to play a different brand of rugby against Italy. They started like a train, went three tries up and then changed. After the game Scott Cummings said 'we always get our mindset right for the big game', and the inference there is that they don't for the other games.

"When the clock pressure and scoreboard pressure is on, they throw the ball away."

Sam Warburton knows what it takes to win titles and he pointed to an incident after one particular Scottish win that left him stunned.

"Two senior Scotland players came in, and I remember thinking it was shocking from a cultural perspective," the Welsh Grand Slam winner said. "They came in beers in hand, still in their kit giving it the 'big un' over one win. .

"I thought it was dead arrogant - that's how I would celebrate winning a World Cup, and if I was coach or a senior player I'd be thinking 'is that your standard?'. Culturally that's bad.

"I saw that with the Scotland players and thought that's not the mindset of a champion team."

Scotland's back-line is littered with talent, but that didn't translate to points during the Six Nations.

Finn Russell is the marquee name in that group, the player Scotland turn to when they need a moment of magic, the man they trust to unlock opposition defences.

He is one of the best fly-halves in the world, but former Scotland hooker Fraser Brown says there is only so much one player can do, and Scotland's brand of rugby has to change if they want to move forward.

"There needs to be more players in that team who can also step up," Brown said. "[Against Ireland], Huw Jones scored that try - that was just about the only time we saw him in the game; we didn't really see Van der Merwe.

"A lot of the attention goes on Russell because of the player he is, but more players need to step up around him, so those magic moments aren't the things that decide games, they add the cherry on top.

"They have not scored enough points in attack. For such a great attacking side, their attack shape isn't creating enough points to win games."

Former Ireland winger Tommy Bowe, perhaps playing devil's advocate, suggested a more pragmatic 10 might be the answer.

"I am a massive fan of Russell," he said "He's a maverick, he's exciting, he gets the crowd on their feet, but is he what Scotland need at the minute?

"You think of Ben Healy, who's come over from Munster - he hasn't got many opportunities, but he's a player who will put the ball in behind the opposition.

"He's not going to pull a rabbit out of a hat like Russell does, but Russell has had so many chances in so many Six Nations and it hasn't quite worked.

"We shouldn't be putting Scotland's results just on the 10, but that's the key playmaker in every team.

"You think of Dan Bigger with Wales, Johnny Sexton with Ireland, Owen Farrell with England - these guys aren't mavericks, they don't play on the line like Russell does, but they win championships.

"Maybe having someone who plays the percentages might be the difference to this team. Your job as a 10 is to make those around you look good."