Veteran key to Scots' chances

By WYNNE GRAY

Think Scotland, think Ian McGeechan.

They have been linked on the playing and coaching levels since midfield back McGeechan made his debut for his country in 1972.

McGeechan, who turns 57 during this tournament, has answered several SOS calls to come out of retirement to coach Scotland.

He insists this will be his last coaching campaign, but he will not be lost to Scotland.

He will become the country's director of rugby after the tournament, where they have been drawn in a favourable pool.

France are the obvious danger and Fiji may stand between the Scots and the quarter-finals.

McGeechan has tried every theory to prepare his squad for the rigors of Australia, including swimming in sub-artic conditions as a way of reducing muscle fatigue when they had a recent training camp in Poland.

"You are looking at five or six weeks of performances and you have to peak at different times throughout that," McGeechan said.

He said the two weeks of adaptation leading up to the start would be even more critical to his team as he wanted Scotland to be "spot on" for the first game.

"This is the fourth World Cup I have been involved in in one form or another and to me, you get the momentum in the pool stages - and that starts in the first game.

"You talk about us doing well in 1991 when we reached the semifinals - it started in the first game.

"You have to come into these games spot on - your attitude, your preparation, your rugby all has to be spot on. Sides in the World Cup that do well get that momentum from pretty early on."

Scotland will base their hopes on McGeechan's planning, the inside back pairing of Bryan Redpath and Gregor Townsend, and the core expertise of several seasoned forwards.

Young No 8 Simon Taylor is a highly-skilled athlete who has recovered top form after a run of severe injuries. Only 23, Taylor is expected to thrive on the hard grounds in Australia.

Significant contributions will be expected from lock Scott Murray, who also represented Scotland at basketball and has transferred those jumping skills to become one of the best lineout leapers in world rugby.

Loosehead prop Tom Smith was a key player for the Lions on their tour of Australia in 2001 and Scotland will look to a repeat of his speed, handling and scrummaging package.

Redpath, the captain, is one of the smallest players in world rugby but he has showed his resilience after seasons in French rugby and nearly 50 international caps.

Outside him may be Townsend if he can stay injury free, a playmaker who can be both brilliant and fragile. He is Scotland's most-capped player.

Flyhalf alternatives are Duncan Hodge or Gordon Ross.

Scotland have a strong Cup record, reaching the quarters in three tournaments and the semifinals in 1991.

However they come to this tournament with a scratchy Six Nations record.

They lost to England, Ireland and France, beat Italy and just scraped past Wales.

As quarter-finalists from the last cup, where they were eliminated by the All Blacks 30-18, Scotland qualified automatically this time.

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