The annual dark horses for the competition, here’s everything you need to know about Scotland ahead of the 2023 Six Nations campaign.
Confirmed Squad
Forwards
Ewan Ashman (Sale), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Simon Berghan (Glasgow), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Fraser Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Exeter), Richie Gray (Glasgow), Cameron Henderson (Leicester), WP Nel (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Javan Sebastian (Scarlets), Sam Skinner (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Ulster), George Turner (Glasgow), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh).
Backs
Chris Harris (Gloucester), Ben Healy (Munster), Stuart Hogg (Exeter), George Horne (Glasgow), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath) Stafford McDowell (Glasgow), Ali Price (Glasgow), Cameron Redpath (Bath), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Ollie Smith (Glasgow), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (London Irish).
Manager
Taking the national job back in 2017, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is preparing for a sixth Six Nations campaign.
Guiding the Scots to some big one-off wins at Murrayfield and on the road, Townsend has still been unable to keep his side in the title conversation going into the final week of the competition.
With his contract up with Scottish Rugby Union at the end of the year, there is some speculation regarding Townsend’s future.
This might be the former Scotland and British & Irish Lions fly-half’s last chance to lead his country into a Six Nations.
Possible First XV
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Sean Maitland
13. Chris Harris
12. Cameron Redpath
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell
9. Ali Price
8. Matt Fagerson
7. Hamish Watson
6. Jamie Ritchie
5. Jonny Gray
4. Sam Skinner
3. Zander Fagerson
2. Ewan Ashman
1. Rory Sutherland
Strengths
Scotland boast one of the most exciting backlines in the competition, with the likes of Finn Russell, Cameron Redpath, Duhan van der Merwe and Stuart Hogg in their ranks.
Darcy Graham would be in that list but injury is set to keep the electric Edinburgh winger out of action until the later stages of the tournament.
Scotland also have quality in the back row, with Hamish Watson and Jamie Ritchie doing much of the vital unseen work at the breakdown.
Weaknesses
Scotland’s power up front has long been an issue for Townsend and coming up against the big packs of Ireland and France, it is a weakness for the Scots.
Injuries have not helped the Scotland cause going into the Six Nations and they could find themselves light in the front row, especially if any more players pick up knocks.
Related Six Nations News
Six Nations: England squad profile
Six Nations: Ireland squad profile
Key Players
Injury has not helped his preparation for the tournament but full-back Stuart Hogg will still be a key player for his country in this Six Nations.
Relieved of the captain's armband, with Ritchie being given the role, Hogg can be fully focused on his form for Scotland.
A player with blistering pace and jinking runs, Hogg is a star that can come up with big moments for Scotland in this tournament.
Admired and maligned in equal measure, fly-half Finn Russell is a player who divides opinion. However, on his day the Racing 92 playmaker can be one of the most exciting stand-offs on the planet.
Capable of creating tries with an array of kicking techniques and perfectly-timed passes, Russell is a player who keeps defence coaches up at night.
Hamish Watson
An instrumental figure in the Scotland back-row, Hamish Watson will be looking for another big Six Nations campaign.
Winning player of the tournament back in 2021, Watson has shown how effective he can be.
A ferocious tackler and a wrecking ball when running at defences, if Scotland have a good Six Nations then Watson is likely to have played a big role.
Ones to watch
Cameron Redpath enjoyed the perfect start to his Scotland career with a Calcutta Cup win down at Twickenham in 2021.
Injuries have hampered him since but back with a clean bill of health, this could be a big Six Nations for the Bath centre.
His namesake, Cameron Henderson at lock is also a player to keep an eye on.
Looking to make his Scotland debut in this tournament, the 23-year-old has been earning rave reviews with his efforts at Leicester Tigers. Both Camerons are ones to watch this February and March.
Odds
Scotland have not claimed major silverware since winning the last Five Nations in 1999 and are 18/1 to get their hands on the Six Nations trophy for the first time this year.
Last winning a Five Nations Grand Slam in 1990, the Scots are available at 66/1 to achieve a clean sweep this year.
The Scots take on England at Twickenham, before hosting Wales and Ireland at Murrayfield. With that under consideration, Scotland are 18/1 to beat the other home nations to win the Triple Crown.
